Big Shot: India Inc deals with a whole new game
Corporates across big cities now prefer to be in their Tees and Cargoes and discuss business over a game of indoor cricket, soccer, hockey or even golf.
By Shramana Ganguly Mehta, TNN |
AHMEDABAD: They don’t sign on the dotted line in boardrooms any longer. Corporates across big cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad now prefer to be in their Tees and Cargoes and discuss business over a game of indoor cricket, soccer, hockey or even golf.
If soccer-crazy Bengal-prompted Space Circle Clubs and Resorts Pvt gave Kolkata its second indoor arena last month, Mumbai-based golfers are gleeful over OptiGolf that would keep them off sun and yet facilitate them to play their master strokes.
The financial capital of the country is also expecting to attract corporates to its upcoming indoor arenas offering cricket, soccer and basketball.
“Emulating the West, India Inc has now come out of their mundane board rooms and prefer to strike cords with each other over a game of indoor cricket, soccer or golf. This works fine with them considering they do not have to sweat out in the sun to do business in informal environment,” managing director of Neo International Sports Academy, Mushtaq Khan, told ET.
Having joined hands with Australian International Sports Academy, Mr Khan will pump in $150 million in next two years to set up 11 indoor sports facilities offering cricket, soccer, netball and golf across Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
He said that the concept itself is so enticing that two of India’s biggest corporate houses based in Mumbai and Surat have sought virtual golf installations for their headquarters.
“They are keen to have the facility where they can hold discussions over the game,” Mr Khan said. Meanwhile, even as monsoon soaks Kolkata, there is nothing that stops the soccer-crazy city to head straight to the “soccer field” from their corporate offices.
Set up with an investment to the tune of Rs 34 crore, The Space Circle Club and The Spring Club in the city have become a big draw for the “white-collared” players.
“A visit to the indoor arenas after 6 pm explains it all. We realised how corporate executives were excited with the thought of getting to play indoor soccer or cricket even in odd hours. This is why, we are contemplating a third indoor arena The Spring Valley in New Kolkata by 2009,” said the general manager of the facilities, Sanjeev Ghosh.
Likewise, two years ago when son of legendary Indian cricketer late ML Jaisimha, Vidyut Jaisimha, began the ML Jaisimha Cricket 365 Academy in Hyderabad, little did he realise the concept’s potential to draw corporates into the game.
“The fact that one can head straight for the game after a day’s work and need not spend more than an hour or two at the pitch, has made the concept click among corporates,” he says.
Having hosted several corporate cricket tournaments in the 10,000 sq feet arena, Mr Jaisimha now knows that he has to take the game beyond the city. “I am looking at taking the concept of indoor cricket to Bangalore, Chennai, Vijaywada and Vishakapatnam where I expect to attract more people into the game,” he told ET.
The financial capital of the country is also expecting to attract corporates to its upcoming indoor arenas offering cricket, soccer and basketball.
“Emulating the West, India Inc has now come out of their mundane board rooms and prefer to strike cords with each other over a game of indoor cricket, soccer or golf. This works fine with them considering they do not have to sweat out in the sun to do business in informal environment,” managing director of Neo International Sports Academy, Mushtaq Khan, told ET.
Having joined hands with Australian International Sports Academy, Mr Khan will pump in $150 million in next two years to set up 11 indoor sports facilities offering cricket, soccer, netball and golf across Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
He said that the concept itself is so enticing that two of India’s biggest corporate houses based in Mumbai and Surat have sought virtual golf installations for their headquarters.
“They are keen to have the facility where they can hold discussions over the game,” Mr Khan said. Meanwhile, even as monsoon soaks Kolkata, there is nothing that stops the soccer-crazy city to head straight to the “soccer field” from their corporate offices.
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Set up with an investment to the tune of Rs 34 crore, The Space Circle Club and The Spring Club in the city have become a big draw for the “white-collared” players.
“A visit to the indoor arenas after 6 pm explains it all. We realised how corporate executives were excited with the thought of getting to play indoor soccer or cricket even in odd hours. This is why, we are contemplating a third indoor arena The Spring Valley in New Kolkata by 2009,” said the general manager of the facilities, Sanjeev Ghosh.
Likewise, two years ago when son of legendary Indian cricketer late ML Jaisimha, Vidyut Jaisimha, began the ML Jaisimha Cricket 365 Academy in Hyderabad, little did he realise the concept’s potential to draw corporates into the game.
“The fact that one can head straight for the game after a day’s work and need not spend more than an hour or two at the pitch, has made the concept click among corporates,” he says.
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Having hosted several corporate cricket tournaments in the 10,000 sq feet arena, Mr Jaisimha now knows that he has to take the game beyond the city. “I am looking at taking the concept of indoor cricket to Bangalore, Chennai, Vijaywada and Vishakapatnam where I expect to attract more people into the game,” he told ET.
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