Mumbai: Non-metro cities witnessed a 78% increase in turf ground searches, compared to a 49% rise in metros on the back of T20 World Cup.
A Justdial report has also noted:
– Ahmedabad emerged as the top metro with a 440% increase in turf ground searches
– Cricket turf searches increased by 69%, Hockey turf by 40%, Kabaddi turf by 61%, and Football turf by 26%
Turf grounds, an artificial substitute for sports ground, are becoming increasingly popular across India, offering a versatile and convenient playing ground for a variety of sports. Justdial a hyperlocal business search engine, has revealed an increase in consumer interest for booking turf grounds for various sports activities. Compared to the same period in 2022–2023, searches for turf grounds jumped by 57% during May 2023–April 2024.
This trend highlights a growing focus on developing sports infrastructure across the country.
The data dives deeper, showcasing a particularly strong demand in non-metro cities. Searches in these areas witnessed a remarkable 78% increase in searches, indicating a desire for improved sporting facilities beyond major urban centers. Whereas metro cities saw a rise of 49% in searches.
Among metros, Ahmedabad leads the pack with a staggering 440% increase in searches for turf grounds. Other cities like Delhi (123%), Kolkata (106%), and Chennai (105%) also witnessed impressive growth, indicating a sustained interest in enhancing sports infrastructure within established urban areas. But the excitement lies in the non-metro surge. Locations like Aurangabad (1226%), Bhopal (923%), and Lucknow (385%) saw phenomenal increases. These high spikes are indicative of the fact that earlier these regions did not search heavily for turfs, but are now starting to see a steep trend.
While cricket turf remains the most searched category, with a 69% increase, the data reveals a growing interest in other sports as well. Hockey turf searches climbed by 40%, Kabaddi turf by 61%, and football turf by 26%, suggesting a wider range of sports gaining traction. This diversified demand reflects a more well-rounded sporting culture taking root in India.
A closer look at regional trends reveals specific sports gaining popularity in certain areas. For instance, cricket turf searches saw spikes in cities like Lucknow (573%), Ahmedabad (546%), Madurai (212%), and Delhi (200%), and . Football turf also showed localised growth in cities like Coimbatore (59%) and Delhi (48%).
With a surge in searches and a focus on accessibility, particularly in non-metro areas, the future of sports infrastructure in India looks bright. This trend presents opportunities for all stakeholders involved in promoting healthy lifestyles and fostering a love for sports in every corner of the country noted Justdial.
- National Search Surge: 57% year-over-year increase in searches for turf grounds across India
- Metro vs. Non-Metro Growth: Non-metro cities witnessed a significant surge (78%) compared to a 49% rise in metro areas
- Metro City Highlights:
– Ahmedabad led the pack with a remarkable 440% increase.
– Other notable metros include Delhi (123%), Kolkata (106%), Chennai (105%), Bangalore (78%), with Pune (47%), Hyderabad (46%) and Mumbai (27%) showing steady growth.
- Non-Metro City Highlights:
– Cities like Vadodara (1775%), Aurangabad (1226%), Rajkot (958%), Bhopal (923%), Chandigarh (741%), Gandhinagar (437%), Udaipur (405%), Lucknow (385%), and Goa (320%) displayed phenomenal growth.
– Nagpur (176%), Mysore (153%), Madurai (175%), Indore (117%) and Jaipur (115%) also saw a strong demand for turf grounds.
- Category-wise Search Increases:
– Cricket turf remained the most searched category with a 69% rise.
– However, other sports are gaining traction are Football turf (26%), Hockey turf (40%), and Kabaddi turf (61%).
- Cricket Turf Regional Spikes:
– Cities like Ambala (1507%), Amritsar (973%), Agartala (166%), Alwar (573%), Bangalore (512%), Aurangabad (235%), Allahabad (212%), Ahmedabad (199%) and Ajmer (115%) witnessed significant surges.
- Football Turf Regional Spikes:
– Baramati (361%), Bhiwadi (188%), Ballia (179%), Bangalore (110%), Bahraich (113%), Bhubaneshwar (100%), Bahadurgarh-Haryana (85%) and Bagalkot (63%) displayed notable growth.
