‘Absolute limbs’ for empty seats: Panama friendly brings India’s ticket pricing conundrum to the fore

The attendance for India vs Panama on Friday was just over 9000, significantly down from the average for a Bengaluru FC game. | Photo Credit: JOAN MATHEW JACOB

Panama may have been the least eye-catching team that India will face in this international window. But with the Blue Tigers coming to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium after three years and a World Cup side visiting, the match surely would have piqued the interest of the football loyalists in Bengaluru.

However, the stadium on Friday painted a different picture, with a lack of buzz around the stadium and stands that were far from full. It was not the fixture itself to blame.

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India arguably had its best showing of late, holding the Central American nation to a hard-fought draw. But what could have been a celebration that Indian football much needed was deprived by the ticket prices.

The stadium, which has a total capacity of almost 26,000, has drawn an average of almost 13,000 fans for every Bengaluru FC match since the 2017/18 season. The round figure has been hit in the season-by-season average, excluding the 2020/21 and 21/22 campaigns, when the matches were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The count on Friday was just over 9000.

Big teams, big money

A ticket in West Block A, the stand famous for holding Bengaluru’s FC fan club West Block Blues (WBB), was priced at Rs. 2,999, while the cheapest tickets available on the day of the game were the north stand seats, which cost Rs. 849. For context, the West Block prices were between the 400-700 range for Indian Super League games and India’s last international fixture at the venue back in 2023.

The announcement of ticket prices on District in early September was met with criticism from several fans and forums. In a social media post on September 17, the WBB said,”At Rs. 2,999 for the West Block, we can’t promise the atmosphere. Can’t promise the banners. Can’t promise the chant. At these prices, we can probably promise an empty stadium.”

— West Block Blues (@WestBlockBlues) September 17, 2026

However, Sportstar understands that the general consensus in the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is that tickets are fairly priced and that it is out of the body’s hands if people are unwilling to pay. It justifies that Panama is a two-time World Cup competitor ranked in the top 50, a kind of team that does not come cheap and that Indian audiences may find hard to lay eyes on in the future.

But therein lies the complication. Should Indian fans be enticed to enter stadiums to watch the opponents or their own team? Occasional matches against Brazil and Uruguay will draw the crowds, but what will make them stay? 

Better performances = more fans

While the turnout for the game was lower than ideal, the reactions from whoever showed up proved that there was appreciation ready to be handed out. It took about eight minutes for the crowd to get fully going, the reason being a positive surge from Akash Mishra before setting up a chance for India’s front two - Manvir Singh and Ryan William - inside the area. You could feel the hope slowly creeping into the stadium. Each pass forward was greeted with oohs and aahs, and even when a build-up was cut short, claps rang around the pitch, assuring the 11 on it that they were doing something right.

India was able to draw on some fan support from those who were able to attend on Friday. | Photo Credit: K MURALI KUMAR

Williams’ goal was the cherry on the top. The spectators were already on their feet as he went through on goal, with the murmur crescendoing into a roar as the ball hit the back of the net. 

‘Absolute limbs,’ as the football heads would say; a moment that was wasted on almost 15,000 empty seats.

Meanwhile, for the ones who witnessed the match, the message to the boycotters is to keep continuing to back the cause. “The price is high, but what can we do at this point? We have to support whenever we can. The ticket costs are similar to the IPL, so football ko support karo bhai,” a fan at the stadium told this publication.

“The irritation regarding the decision-making and politics behind the scenes is out of our hands. Our job is to get behind the team,” they added.

The performance against Panama will certainly bring eyes back to Indian football and, momentarily silence critics of the decision to drop the FIFA ASEAN Cup to face teams at the top end of the rankings. 

But make no mistake, the upcoming matches against South American heavyweights will be considerably tougher, especially with Brazil and Uruguay looking to bounce back after disappointing starts to their windows. Carlo Ancelotti’s side was held to a 1-1 draw by Australia while Uruguay fell to a 1-3 loss against Japan.

The star power in the nations will bring the fans to the stadium, and whatever the result may be, if India can show improvements across the two games, its admirers can finally put an end to reality checks and look forward to what comes next.

Published on Sep 26, 2026

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