Bars, eateries see demand spike during IPL

India’s restaurants, bars and quick-service chains are seeing a much-needed rebound after the Indian Premier League (IPL) season 19 kicked off on March 28, with match screenings, group dining and delivery driving sales over the weekends.

- Varuni Khosla & Vaeshnavi Kasthuril

After a soft start to March due to the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply crunch caused by the West Asia war, the tournament has brought some respite to eateries. For hospitality businesses, the 84-match calendar overlaps with the summer months, offering a sustained consumption trigger, turning cricket fandom into higher footfall and bigger orders.

The industry expects 5-10%. growth on normal match days, and big spikes on high-profile game days and weekends.

“More than anything, the cricket extravaganza is about community and people coming together. In uncertain times, these shared experiences become more meaningful,” said Rahul Singh, founder of The Beer Café, owned by BTB Marketing Pvt Ltd.

The Beer Café, outlets have been converted into “mini stadiums” and the chain is using the tournament to drive group visits and higher average spends across its 50-plus locations.