THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism’s invitation for owner bids for its inaugural franchise-based Champions Boat League may have failed to take off, but the three-month event will be held as per its original schedule, Kerala Tourism director P Bala Kiran, who also heads the SPV set up for the CBL, has asserted.
“The CBL will go on as per schedule from August 10 (to November 1) in the IPL format with the same teams and venues using the Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 million) provided from the (state) exchequer. There will be no change in the total prize money of Rs 6 crore (Rs 60million) for the CBL,” Kiran told The Hindu.
The much publicised August 1 auction in Kochi failed to take off as only six of the 11 prospective franchisees who took the bid documents for the nine boat clubs on offer turned up. Of the six, only four were keen on taking up the mantle of franchise, which forced Kerala Tourism to postpone the auction, the daily further reports.
The base price of the CBL franchisees was fixed at Rs 15 million. Technical aspects and funds needed for the franchise to manage internal team, for training and for marketing, reportedly played spoilsport. Till the franchisees are roped in, Kerala Tourism will be the owner of the nine clubs.
The boat races of the CBL will be televised by a national broadcast partner and the aim is to mobilise more companies and celebrities as bidders, Kiran said.
The CBL will start with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha and end with the President’s Trophy Boat Race in Kollam.
