#BookMyShowScam trends online as Cricket World Cup 2023 ticket fiasco unfolds
Ticketing platform BookMyShow found itself on the receiving end of much hatred online on Sunday and Monday (August 3-4). A multitude of user complaints including enduring a long two-hour wait, discrepancies between seat availability and actual seats, difficulties booking from multiple devices, and tickets often selling out early took the Internet by storm, sending the hashtag #BookMyShowScam soaring to the top of trending lists.
BookMyShow is the official ticketing partner for World Cup 2023.
Eager fans were thrilled to access the pre-sale of tickets for the final leg of India's matches in Ahmedabad. The pre-sale was slated for Sunday, September 3, at 8 pm.
The pinnacle of the ICC World Cup 2023, the India vs Pakistan clash, was expected to be a highlight. However, as excitement grew, numerous issues emerged during the ticket booking process, leading to widespread user dissatisfaction.
What
- Users on social media platforms have been voicing their concerns about alleged ticket scalping by the online ticket booking app, BookMyShow.
- Frustration reigned supreme as passionate fans tried to snag tickets for the IND-PAK showdown once the pre-sale went live on the BookMyShow platform.
- Users found themselves stuck in a digital waiting room for a whopping 2 hours (and more, in some cases).
- Disparity arose between the advertised seat availability and the actual number of seats displayed on the app, along with issues like the inability to book tickets from multiple devices and tickets being sold before the scheduled commencement time.
BookMyShow reacts
Understanding the excitement of fans who can't wait to catch the thrilling 50-over matches at various Indian venues, BookMyShow hopped on X (formerly Twitter) and owned up to the fact that booking tickets hasn't exactly been a walk in the park for these enthusiastic fans.
Users expressed significant frustration due to the app's inefficiency, prolonged wait times, and uncertainty surrounding ticket availability, leaving them hanging in frustration.
The Developers Strike
Sukhmanjit Singh, a developer, noticed the discrepancy and pointed out the incorrect seat numbers, which quickly went viral on X.
This triggered a series of similar posts on social media, catching the public's eye.
The main bone of contention was how BookMyShow had made available only 8,334 tickets out of the 1,32,000 seating capacity of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Ticket prices
On BookMyShow, tickets for the India vs Pakistan match start at Rs 2,000, and go up till Rs 1,00,000.
The big India vs Pakistan WC 2023 clash
India and Pakistan are all set to face off in the World Cup 2023 on October 14. The match is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Cricket fans have booked hotels (sometimes at skyhigh prices), and even hospital beds in Ahmedabad to catch the big clash between India and Pakistan this October.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 kicks off on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
(DailyO reached out to BookMyShow for a comment on the 'scam' allegations, but has yet to receive a response. The story will be updated if they respond.)