Stanford wants to bankroll EPL

[prarara]

I'm not sure they do. They are popular at the moment but I think all that will fade away once the IPL gets established and the cricket will be the focus. When the T20 cup started in England they did all the dancers and bumpf (ok, not to the same level) and they found out it doesn't really add anything and people aren't really interested in it, they come for the cricket.

Look at any big sporting event, like the Olympics, is anyone really interested in the opening ceremony? We watch it because we are excited about the olympics. Would we care if it wasn't there - no.

Good point Kev. Still the opening Ceremony does add some pizzaz. It gets you in the mood. I agree it's no substitute for the event itself; it's more like the forplay to sex.

 

[SaiSrini]

I blame the ICC. The ICC organised the Twenty20 World Cup. If that had never happened and India had never won it, they would not have gone T20 crazy and the ICL and IPL would never have happened.

Was that meant to be in a humorous tone?

When the world cup started, no one gave india a chance. even the BCCI didnt embrace the format and was reluctant to play. it was destiny that made india win the world cup, and make twenty20 so popular in the nation.

it's more like the forplay to sex.

oooo..... that turns me on!

 

[Skater]

Was that meant to be in a humorous tone?

Not really. It's true, India were not big on T20 at all when the World Cup came along and as soon as they found they were quite good at it... wham. That was it. Damn you Misbah.

 

[Kev]

Interesting idea Lee, do you think that the popularity of IPL in India will fall if the national side isn't as successful next time around? Will we see Indians moaning about foreign players in IPL if India do poorly? Certainly I think internationally interest in IPL will fall off once the fuss dies down, afterall its a domestic competition, I don't follow it now and I count myself as being pretty bloody interested in cricket.

Can an EPL work? If its organised correctly. If they create new franchise teams I think they risk alienating existing cricket fans. I wouldn't be interested one bit in following a South East team for example. Will it match the IPL for money? - no. But does it have to? - no. EPL will have the advantage of being held in everyone else's off-season, so international players will be interested in playing and they won't be put off by smaller paychecks as they won't be playing cricket in that period anyway unless they are touring England internationally.

 

[Skater]

So far it hasn't created a problem to international cricket though. No players have quit their national sides for the IPL, and if any series overlap it they will go home.

 

[Kev]

I wasn't suggesting that IPL has created problems in International cricket, although I think it has effected international cricket. I meant that people outside India will lose interest in IPL quite quickly I think.

 

[manee]

Interest in the IPL, outside India, will fade after the first year, but I feel that it will maintain at a relatively high level after that decline.

 

[Cricketman]

I don't think the IPL will lose interest much.

It's a refreshing break after the redundant ODI's and the countless tests drawn on placid pitches.

I think it's a good idea, I don't know why anyone wouldn't like it!

I think an EPL played in the T20 format might be a tad redundant, though.

Why not an ODI format, in franchise form? Pro 40? Or a different one all together!

 

[Kev]

You just said that you thought ODI's were redundant, so why would you want EPL to follow that format?

Stanford's idea seems to revolve more around international teams at the moment. I don't see why IPL and EPL can't co-exist in the same format. As I stated earlier interest in IPL outside of india is probably pretty low (unless you are Indian) and likewise interest in EPL in India is likely to be pretty low (unless you are English) so there won't be a problem.

Stanford says he thinks T20 cricket can replace Football as the number 1 sport, certainly in England he is wrong, but I'm sure it can surpass football in some other countries. There is room in the world for lots of T20 leagues, there is certainly room for plenty of domestic football leagues. Stanford is probably correct in backing the ECB over the BCCI to organise the rise of T20, look at how the BCCI have handled the media rights to IPL, 900 pound gorilla seems a fair assessment.

 

[metallics2006]

As long as Manchester Utd stays in the EPL there is no way cricket will beat football. Man Red For Life.

 

[yorkerzlite]

first post here guys,

For those in the UK, do you feel this will encourage more youngsters to take up cricket as a sport

 

[Skater]

first post here guys,

For those in the UK, do you feel this will encourage more youngsters to take up cricket as a sport

No, I don't. Not majorly anyway. The Twenty20 Cup doesn't have a thousand children playing cricket, and the English Premier League would just be a glorified version of it. What will encourage more youngsters to play cricket is England being successful, as proven after the Ashes in 2005.

 

[SciD]

As I stated earlier interest in IPL outside of india is probably pretty low (unless you are Indian) and likewise interest in EPL in India is likely to be pretty low (unless you are English) so there won't be a problem.

Which EPL?
Soccer EPL is more popular than hockey here.

 

[Kev]

Well as we were talking cricket, I meant the proposed cricket tournament not football.

 

[SciD]

Ok, Well I will see. I have watched all T20 games in England which are shown here. But I dont like domestic RSA T20 competition.