Ticket prices for the India-Uruguay football friendly in Kolkata have been sharply reduced, with select VYBK Stadium stands now available for just Rs 199 after the recent India-Brazil match drew a lower-than-expected crowd.

Tickets in C2 Right and C2 Left at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) Stadium have been reduced from Rs 1,999 to Rs 199 — a cut of about 90 per cent. The revised prices were announced by the official Indian football account on Sunday.

The move comes days after India’s high-profile friendly against five-time world champions Brazil at the Salt Lake Stadium saw large sections of the stands remain empty at kick-off. Attendance eventually increased as the match progressed, but the crowd remained below the stadium’s 68,000 capacity, with just over 51,000 spectators recorded.

The response has also raised attention around ticket sales for India’s next major friendly, against two-time World Cup winners Uruguay on October 6.

Free tickets for fans who missed Messi’s Kolkata event

The ticket-price reduction comes alongside another effort to draw fans to the India-Uruguay match.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had announced on Saturday that people who missed Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata last year would be eligible for free tickets to the Uruguay game.

Adhikari said around 22,000 people who missed the Messi event would be covered under the initiative. A WhatsApp number was expected to be provided through which eligible fans could collect their passes.

The physical passes can be collected on October 5 between 11 am and 5 pm. Fans will have to produce a valid government-issued photo ID — Voter Card, Aadhaar card, driving licence or passport — along with the paid ticket from the previous event.

India vs Uruguay ticket sales had already faced a slow response

The Uruguay friendly had been facing a ticketing challenge even before the latest price cut.

Several football clubs and organisations in West Bengal had received allocations for the match, but sales and requests were reported to be limited.

Mohun Bagan was allocated 6,000 tickets but sold only 90, while East Bengal received 4,000 tickets and had requests for around 400. The Indian Football Association (IFA) was allocated 2,000 tickets but received only 24 requests from its affiliated units. Mohammedan Sporting was given 3,000 tickets, though its sales figures were not disclosed.

Ticket prices were one of the major concerns. Tickets allocated to clubs and the IFA were priced at Rs 6,000, or Rs 5,400 after a 10 per cent discount, while cheaper options were available online.

An IFA official had said the local football audience was accustomed to watching matches at much lower prices.

Brazil match puts ticket pricing under focus

The subdued turnout for the Brazil friendly has added another layer to the ticketing issue.

Despite Brazil arriving with a strong squad featuring Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos, the Salt Lake Stadium did not have the packed atmosphere usually associated with major football events in Kolkata.

Even two-and-a-half hours before kick-off, tickets were available through the official District app, with prices ranging from Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000 for several blocks.

The scene was markedly different from the packed stands and intense atmosphere usually witnessed during major Kolkata events. The stadium has also previously seen huge crowds for Lionel Messi’s visit to the city.

The Brazil and Uruguay friendlies are being held in the run-up to the Durga Puja season, with fans having to consider the cost of attending two major international fixtures within a short period.

With agency inputs