We are just days away from the launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on April 18th. There was a ton of hype around the end of January when the 8 teams were sold to the highest bidders, the owners were a mix of industrials and Bollywood – surprising I know. Over USD 720 million was put on the table to buy the teams and players.
The IPL is the brain child of Lalit Modi a VP at the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). BCCI is said to have made over USD 1 billion on the television rights for the IPL over many years. Some of the numbers being thrown around are a bit suspect, but I love the fact they are trying to create an entertainment option that could rival the likes of the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball.
My only concern is they are already watering down the brand with 59 matches in 6 weeks, a minimum of one match a day starting April 18th.
Will it work? That’s the billion dollar question everyone is waiting to see. I just hope it’s successful so they use the money to build world class stadiums and really enhance the overall fan experience.
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