MUMBAI: The curiosity around the Indian Super League football seems to be building with the organisers having received positive responses from many interested parties. It was in keeping with this that the deadline for submitting the bid documents had been extended by two days to 26 and 27 March.
While there has been much speculation around who all could be vying to own the eight city franchises; there have been rumours that IndiaWins Sports - owner of the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians - allegedly bid for the Mumbai team as it also happens to be a ‘League Partner’ for the city.
IndiaWin Sports released a press statement saying: “We have received several media queries over the last few days on whether we have bid for a franchise in the Indian Super League. Most of these queries are specific to the interest Mumbai Indians ‘must’ have in being a ‘League Partner’ for the city of Mumbai.”
“IndiaWin Sports, which owns the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, wishes to state that we have not bid for a franchise in the upcoming Indian Super League,” the statement added.
The Indian Super League certainly provides a promising opportunity for a sports brand to develop unique connect, brand extension and value creation. “However adhering to the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency, and in the larger interest of the sport, the management at IndiaWin Sports had taken a conscious decision not to participate in the bidding process,” the statement further said.
ISL aims to be India’s next major sports property. Having put in place the foundational structure, it is now at the homestretch identifying the ‘League Partners’ who will form the pillar of this professional league.
Eight committed team owners (to be known as League Partners) will be selected as per a sophisticated evaluated criteria encompassing financial and developmental parameters. The league aims to unlock the aspirational energy in the youth, build a stage for talents and teams to flourish, co-create a vibrant ecosystem, and make the sport a national mission by giving much - needed impetus to the game of football.
Some of the big names from the country's corporate world, Bollywood biggies and present sports team owners have shown keen interest to be part of the tourney.
The league was to begin in January but had to be postponed owing to issues like scheduling and lack of a window.
The winning bids announcement will take place in the second week of April. Ernst & Young, the advisory firm, has been entrusted the responsibility of evaluating the bid documents.
