Offering international sporting experiences
With niche sectors cropping up in the tourism industry, Fans On Stands Sports (FOSS) offers a unique proposition. Being one of India’s first sports marketing company, it aims to bring the best of international sporting experiences to audiences in India.
Established in late 2009, FOSS has three basic offerings: premium and hospitality ticketing, where they provide access to major sporting events around the world; specialised holidays based on sports; and corporate events centred on sports events. In short, it provides a one-stop sports tourism service. Thus, the firm offers
Northwest India posts good opportunities as cities, such as Nagpur, offer a strategic sports hub across Central India
Indian public an easy access to international sporting events such as MotoGP, Royal Ascot, Grand Prix, etc.
Based in Bengaluru, the key target markets depend on the fan base. The Tier-I cities that offer a large client base are Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, etc. “North West India posts good opportunities as cities, such as Nagpur, offer a strategic sports hub across Central India,” said
Arun Raghu, Co-Founder and Director, FOSS.
According to Raghu, sports tourism gradually evolved in India. “After the 1983 World Cup, Indian media started publicising sporting events manifold. And, with the advent of cable TV era, Indian public was exposed to a variety of international sporting events. Also, with the influx of 24x7 sports channels, corporate houses realised that such events could be used as a platform to advertise and promote their brands.” These three key elements led to the evolution of sports tourism in India, he explained. The company also offers customised packages for MICE groups. If FOSS receives the rights for a particular event, then no extra fee is charged from the customer. However, if no rights are bought, then a service fee is charged. International sports tourism market has strict touting laws and as a company they do not indulge in secondary market.