@footydip, OK, I-league can't be saved, fine. But were there reals efforts to save it? Was it conditions of revenue sharing applied to I-league as it is a rule in ISL? Telecast, Sponsorship: were these even tried? If not, how can you be sure that I-league cannot be saved?
ISL is a double edged sword. If it succeeds, then it will gobble up the national league and create more audiences for EPL and La Liga. If it fails, naysayers will say, look, football is not possible in India. Give me slow development through I-league.
@cybertron, how this will take India to above FIFA 100.
And a minor correction: AIFF will NOT get any extra money other than the fees from this league. Profit will be bagged by IMG-R. This is a private league mind it.
Cyberton sorry to hear that. But seriously I also don't have very high hopes like you. But again what is wrong to give Isl a chance when everything is apparently ( actually ) failed.
@footydip I-league has not failed if aiff share TV rights,ads,sponsor money with I league clubs then the owners will invest more aiff can also make it pan India by giving direct entry and make I league 2 a full league but they can't do it now as aiff is controlled by IMG-R (indian money grabbing rodents)
But you need money. Tell me one thing who will sponsor aiff if img reliance departs. From where the money will come. You are telling about revenue sharing. If no one ( except very few of us ) watches the match ( in tv or stadium) from where the revenue will come? It will fail. United sc a very good example of our falling nature. Yes Isl do have many faults ( like durations , schedule, foreign player quality and numbers) but you have to do something. Isl will create the much needed buzz.
And God save the league where a team wants to play a pre-historic Fowler. Why not Beckenbauer, Platini, or even, better Pele himself? At least they would have generated more interest than Fowler, if generating interest is the main criteria.
Oh, sorry that I forgot that the above players would not be able to stand in the field for 90 long minutes .... but who cares ...
I will agree with u on buzz thing by ISL I will accapt ISL as a league only if they run it for 6+ months, reduce foreigners to 5,sign marquee under 35,and start world class academy's
the 1 chance will kill I league for sure as we know all the owners of ISL have no intension about Indian football they just want some money so why bother about academy's just sign few u19 players from local league
@footydip On your point about sponsors, there is proof from the amount of applications only a year ago the I-League had for a direct-entry side that there is interest from corporates for I-League. At one point we even had SRK snooping around Dempo.
The problem is though is that these corporates won't come unless they see a good business model that ensures that the money they invest will eventually be made up. They don't mind losing money for 5-10 years but if the current business model gives them 0% hope of ever making up the money then why even bother.
That is the problem with the I-League. That is the problem with United and most of the other I-League clubs. It is all about the business model and how they regulate their money. The Indian Super League seems to be doing well because the business model they have in place gives some corporates confidence while the I-League does not. There is no revenue that goes back to clubs and when barely any effort is made to make the league popular then the chances any corporate will notice is zero.
Look at Bengaluru FC. They are an example of a team that has tried and been successful in their very first year because they cared. They marketed the team, they made the team look "hip" and "cool" to fans, and they hired the right, professional people and look at what they did. That means that the I-League or any football league in India can be successful but we need to be patient, find the right business model, and role with it.
Unfortunately though, IMG-Reliance don't want to do that. They want results now so they are taking a risk with this ISL in the hope that they can make their money back that they are investing. My prediction, and the overall majorities, is that they won't make their money back and that as soon as they see it they will call it quits on the Indian Super League.
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Oh, sorry that I forgot that the above players would not be able to stand in the field for 90 long minutes .... but who cares ...