CHENNAI: When former India captain Dilip Tirkey was elected as the president of Hockey India, besides galvanising the India team, he had two objectives in mind. He told TNIE during an interview last year that one of them was to revive the Hockey India League (HIL) that helped Indian players improve substantially while playing against top players across the world, while the other was to develop hockey in the grassroots. Finally, the franchises and dates have been announced and players have been drafted into eight teams through auction.
With about three weeks left for the HIL to begin, the league has been facing some teething issues. One such is the revenue model and foreign players leaving franchises because of the low bid. Another was to find a big long-term or title sponsor. HI president Tirkey during an interview with this newspaper elucidated plans for generating revenue and also revealed that in a short while they are going to announce a title sponsor. He admitted that some foreign players have left franchises after the auction but HI is trying to find the right solution.
There have been murmurs within the franchises about the sustainability of the league, more so because there has not been much headway on the commercial partners' side. There are apparent issues regarding sharing of revenue too. Tirkey tried to dispel any threat to the HIL. He spoke about sustainability, the future and more. Excerpts:
The league had helped Indian players improve, seven years later, do you think HIL will have the same impact?
What do young players need to develop? They need exposure to world-class players, tactics, coaching and fitness standards. This is exactly what the Hockey India League will provide and will help nurture local talent of international quality. As a result of HIL, I can clearly see India dominating world hockey in years to come.
As a project, it is one of your pet projects. Are you confident that HIL will succeed as planned?
I have no doubt that the league will succeed. We have top-notch franchise owners, great broadcast partners and the world's best playing and coaching talent. Add to that India's recent success in the Asian Games and the Olympics and the public support that has evoked. Together they'll ensure that the HIL emerges as one of the premier sporting leagues in the world.
How will the HIL benefit the sports at a grassroots level?
My belief is that two things will aid that process. Firstly, it will encourage more youngsters to take up hockey as a viable career. Secondly, the resources (through franchise fees, media rights & sponsorships) that the HIL will help HI raise will enable us to build even better infrastructure, get better coaching & support staff and financially support young players. I am very excited about what HIL will do for the sport in our country.
Franchises have invested a lot in the teams. There are discussions on the sustainability side? A bit on the revenue model.
We believe that we pegged the franchise fee at a very reasonable level so that franchise owners could have a clear path to profitability. However, one has to be patient in terms of the League achieving its fullest commercial potential and our esteemed franchise owners understand that. I personally feel convinced about the economic viability of the League given the level of interest we have received from broadcasters, sponsors and other stakeholders. While many of the established leagues are unable to find title sponsors, I am pleased to say that HIL shall shortly be unveiling its title sponsor and that brand association is a matter of great pride for us. Worldwide sports leagues build value over time. However, once they hit that inflection point, the returns can be substantial. Our franchise owners appreciate that and buy into it with conviction. We seek this league as a true partnership between Hockey India and the franchise owners and will proactively address any concerns that they may have. This includes periodic reviews of the overall commercial structure of the league in order to ensure that the interests of the franchise owners are duly served.
Franchises are facing some challenges at the moment. Some of the foreign recruits bid during auctions are leaving or planning to leave. This apparently is because some of them were bought at base price or so. How are you going to address this?
It is indeed true that some foreign players withdrew post the auction. Admittedly, it was something that we hadn't foreseen. We have taken up the matter with the FIH and the respective country (national) federations and will ensure something like this does not happen in the future. That said, most of the overseas talent will be participating in this edition of the HIL and the fans are in for a visual spectacle.
On the future of the league
The future of HIL is full of exciting possibilities. Not only Indian hockey, I believe it will have a profound impact on world hockey as well. To be able to have the world's best players playing each other as part of multi-national teams in a highly competitive environment can only revitalise and lift the sport. It also gives the players the opportunity to develop more quickly and build more rewarding careers for themselves. With 12 franchises in Season 1, HIL is the biggest mainstream sport league at inception. Also unique & unprecedented is the fact that the men's and the women's editions are starting from the get-go. Add to the list of firsts the fact that HIL will have two linear broadcast partners. All of the above would strongly suggest that we have laid the foundations of a truly exceptional league and which will become a template of sorts for others to follow.