The BCCI are confident that they will attract a lot of bids
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced that they are still searching for a new title sponsor for the Indian Premier League (IPL) after DLF stepped down in order to promote other sports.
The BCCI have already issued a floating tender to any company who wishes to make a bid to become the new title sponsors of the star-studded Twenty20 tournament.
A senior BCCI official announced that the base price was being kept at Rs 60 crore per year, and added that Vodafone, who are already co-sponsors of the tournament, Airtel, Pepsi and Coke were the leading candidates to replace DLF.
Speaking exclusively to MAIL TODAY, the official said: “The base price has been kept at ` 60 crore per year and the Invitation to Tender (ITT) can be obtained from the BCCI headquarters itself. At present Vodafone, Airtel, Pepsi and Coke look to be the frontrunners, but then there is time till November 21 and there could be an intense bidding process, Vodafone have made it clear that if any other telecom company comes on board, they will sever ties with the IPL. Being cosponsors already, this could be an issue for the board, if Airtel come up with the best bid.”
IPL commissioner Rajeev Shukla noted that the BCCI were confident of “signing a better deal” this time.
“We have floated new tenders and are confident of signing a better deal this time round, under this Invitation to Tender, the winning bidder will be granted the right to be title sponsor of the IPL for the five seasons from 2013 to 2017. The title sponsor rights include a number of branding and other marketing benefits to be received by the title sponsor at every IPL match during the season as specifically outlined in the Invitation to Tender,” Shukla told MAIL TODAY.
The notice issued by the BCCI stated that companies who are intending to sell their rights after winning the bid will not be allowed to apply at all.
“Bids may be submitted in respect of all product categories listed in the ITT. Only corporate entities, whether in India or abroad, which are interested in placing a bid for themselves and/ or their holding or subsidiary company(ies), for the purpose of the advertisement and promotion of their own brands within their primary product or services categories are eligible to participate in this tender process and to submit bids. For the sake of clarity, agencies intending to sell the rights to another corporate entity are not eligible to participate in this tender,” the notice said.