Dreams of seeing Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players in the world, in Kolkata on Saturday went down the drain for football fans who bought tickets to the meet and greet session organised at Salt Lake Stadium in the city. The price of the ticket spectators paid to watch Messi was not worth the spectacle, which was far from grand. All that the people who spent anywhere between ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 was a group of people surrounding Messi, including VIPs who fans claimed were posting selfies with the footballer.
The VIP tent, which was placed at the centre of the football ground, disrupted the view of the fans. Angry fans are asking why state ministers Aroop Biswas and Sujit Bose were hogging the limelight, with their family members having easy access to the player, while fans from across the country paid a huge sum of money, had to wait for hours outside before entering the stadium to see Messi.
Within 15 minutes of his arrival, the international football star was escorted out of the venue, leaving football fans angry. What prompted them to throw water bottles and chairs at the VIP tent and organisers, and go on a rampage and destroy public property at the stadium?
The anger towards the main organiser, Satadru Dutta, who was arrested by the police, was owing to mismanagement and failure to deliver the promise. Dejected, fans are demanding their money back.
Police are also investigating the agenda of the programme and what was promised. Police have asked organisers to provide in writing that fans will be refunded their ticket money. If they fail to do so, legal actions will be initiated.
The event, organised by Dutta, was backed by major sponsors like Adani, HSBC, and JSW. The G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 was estimated at $80–100 million. There was a huge demand for tickets for the event as the last time Messi was in India was in 2011.
Why was so much money spent on the event?
* The tour was expected to be profitable for the organisers, with broader benefits such as ₹100–200 crore in tourism and hospitality boosts. The privately organised fan engagement event featured meet-and-greets, exhibition matches, concerts, and charity activities.
* ₹10 lakh for an exclusive meet-and-greet with the football star—to shake hands and, of course, take a picture to capture an awe-inspiring lifetime opportunity. For people willing to shell out that amount, there were only 100 slots. Premium packages generated ₹30–50 crore from VIP tiers, such as the “GOAT Fan Experience” at ₹9.95 lakh plus 18 per cent GST (approximately ₹11.74 lakh or $14,000 USD) per person for a meet-and-greet, signed jersey, photo, and dining. Limited slots were available, including family packages at ₹25 lakh for four people.
* Merchandise and add-ons, including jersey sales, autographs, were expected to generate ₹10–20 crore.
* ₹50–80 crore was generated from 200,000–300,000 attendees across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Ticket prices were Kolkata (₹4,366+), Hyderabad (₹2,250+), Mumbai (₹7,080+), and Delhi (₹4,720+), with premium tickets priced up to ₹50,000. Tickets were sold via the District app.
* Revenues were projected at ₹100–150 crore ($12–18 million USD) from fan-facing elements. These were aimed at helping organisers cover non-sponsored expenses.
* The organisers’ total expenditure was estimated at ₹150–200 crore ($18–24 million USD), covering logistics for a high-profile, multi-city event.
* Appearance fees were estimated at ₹100–150 crore ($12–18 million USD) for Messi, with additional fees for joining teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul estimated at ₹20–30 crore combined. Messi’s solo appearance fee for non-competitive events like this typically ranges from $10–15 million, adjusted for India’s market.
* Travel and logistics were estimated at ₹20–30 crore, covering private jets, security, accommodations—including luxury stays at Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad—and ground transport across four cities.
* Event production was projected at ₹15–25 crore for venue rentals, including Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and for staging exhibition matches and concerts. Lighting, sound, and insurance were also included. Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata has an approximate capacity of 120,000, which increased setup costs.
* Marketing and staffing costs were estimated at ₹10–15 crore for promotions and staff, including international crew and local partnerships with the AIFF for youth events.
* Other costs involved contingencies such as GST (18 per cent) on fees and potential overruns from celebrity add-ons. These costs were secured through sponsorships and pre-sales, avoiding the funding shortfalls that cancelled the Kerala match.
* Sponsorships totalled an estimated ₹120–180 crore ($14–22 million USD), accounting for 70–80 per cnet of the budget. These covered most appearance fees and production costs, making the event viable.
* Other aspects included media tie-ups and an additional ₹20–40 crore from in-kind support.
However, the potential gains turned into heavy losses for the organisers and sponsors, with a question mark over the remainder of Messi’s India tour, which was scheduled to span three other cities until Monday.
Damage to public property at Salt Lake Stadium—officially known as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, owned by the Government of West Bengal and operated by the Department of Youth Services & Sports—will also incur huge repair costs following a rampage by angry fans inside the stadium. With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instituting a high-level enquiry committee into the incident, more details are expected to emerge in the days to come.