Is Lalit Modi/BCCI planning a hockey IPL?

[ViruRulez]

I just saw Lalit Modi and CNN IBN editor Rajdeep Sardesai discussing about a hockey IPL on twitter. Lalit Modi said that he is ready to do the blueprint and organize the hockey IPL and told Rajdeep to build consensus in the country. Here is the exact tweet of Lalit Modi to Rajdeep Sardesai:

@sardesairajdeep I agree we could do with a hockey IPL. Please build consesus around the country. Will be happy to provide the blue print.

So, Is BCCI / Lalit Modi planning to enter into Indian Hockey too? Personally I think it would be great step towards the revival of the game.

[Don Sharma]

Wasn't there an IHL or PHL which was an ESS initiative?

[Sachinism]

THere was a tv show called The changing face of cricket and on that both these guys were present as well as Harsha Bhogle and others, SRT was present in the crowd too and they were discussing how BCCI and the media could help hockey, it looks like they're putting their plan into action now. I could try and upload it if I still have it

[Guest DeveGowda]

But i doubt Hockey will work like IPL done..its easy to market cricket in india..but hockey ? May be india have to win World Cup this year...same like T20 2007... Still i doubt about viabilty of the project.. ****Modi and BCCI wont do anyhting without profit...Never think that they will do this for good for Country..NEVER. Let them first peovide proper facilty in stadiums for cricket and good TV coverage..

[SachDan]

Wasn't there an IHL or PHL which was an ESS initiative?

Yeah..PHL. It was a huge success in the first edition because of good marketing done by ESS (Remmber ESS's 'few good men' at that time supporting a team each). Most of the matches were played infront of huge crowd and got good media coverage as well IIRC. Don't know why it suffered a sudden death! Lack of interest among the sponsors ?? hmmm...

[jusarrived]

But i doubt Hockey will work like IPL done..its easy to market cricket in india..but hockey ? May be india have to win World Cup this year...same like T20 2007... Still i doubt about viabilty of the project.. ****Modi and BCCI wont do anyhting without profit...Never think that they will do this for good for Country..NEVER. Let them first peovide proper facilty in stadiums for cricket and good TV coverage..

Gowdre :--D PHL actually was pretty successful , with packed stadiums for every match , but I thot it wasnt marketed very well & for some unknown reason was aborted ...it waont be difficult to get 7-10K spectators for Hockey matches ...HOckey needs money & if modi can help them with it , i see no harm

[Guest DeveGowda]

Gowdre :--D PHL actually was pretty successful , with packed stadiums for every match , but I thot it wasnt marketed very well & for some unknown reason was aborted ...it waont be difficult to get 7-10K spectators for Hockey matches ...HOckey needs money & if modi can help them with it , i see no harm

7/10 thousand Spectators wont make much difference you need Big TV ratings to get money...i dont think Sponsors pay huge amount of money to Hockey... I am not agianst hockey..but i dont believ BCCI in this project :winky: i used to be Big hockey fan ...my interest over after Dhanraj pillay retirement...

[achilles]

If there is some thing which can make Hockey one of the sports to reckon with in India, it is- 1. A World Cup win. 2. A Marketing genius like Lalit Modi.

[Guest DeveGowda]

If there is some thing which can make Hockey one of the sports to reckon with in India, it is- 1. A World Cup win. 2. A Marketing genius like Lalit Modi.

That may not be work in Hockey..we all know in cricket u dont need much geniusness because all of us are Big fools...will follow matches any day with any amount of work or study... I still remmeber a Day night match where india required 8 RPO with 4 wkts in hand against pak..dravid and Robin singh are playing @ 3RPO..when next day i had my 1st PUC maths Final exam...:haha: **Still modi is a very good Marketing Guy...

[ViruRulez]

But i doubt Hockey will work like IPL done..its easy to market cricket in india..but hockey ? May be india have to win World Cup this year...same like T20 2007... Still i doubt about viabilty of the project.. ****Modi and BCCI wont do anyhting without profit...Never think that they will do this for good for Country..NEVER. Let them first peovide proper facilty in stadiums for cricket and good TV coverage..

Every business works for money and I wont blame L Modi or BCCI for it BTW if they really take over hockey and make hockey IPL then they would also include foreign players I suppose ... that would make them the biggest body in world hockey too like BCCI is in cricket already.. that would mean BCCI dominating two of 3 most popular games in the world - Cricket and Hockey ... that would mean BCCI would grown bigger than FIFA maybe and become the world's biggest and most powerful sports governing body :yay::yay::yay:

[Serani]

Isnt cricket in competition with hockey? What if hockey became more popular than Cricket in India.

[ViruRulez]

Isnt cricket in competition with hockey? What if hockey became more popular than Cricket in India.

That is what I also thought .. if hockey is promoted then people might not blindly follow cricket like they do now and that would mean loss for BCCI in cricket .. so maybe BCCI would also be cautious :--D

[achilles]

Isnt cricket in competition with hockey? What if hockey became more popular than Cricket in India.

Its our national sport.

[Serani]

Its our national sport.

That doesnt mean cricket should help it out, sports is a competitive business and the BCCI would be stupid to start ploughing money into hockey when it wont help cricket. Unless the BCCI are planning to loan hockey some money to set up this IPL like tournament and will then charge ridiculous interest rates that they wont be able to pay back and so leave cricket as the only sport in India. Thats a good business plan, might tweet the idea to Lord Modi.

[Texan]

Modi thinks he achieved something great with the IPL. Success of IPL is due to the cricket popularity in India not thanks to Mr Modi. Let him try to replicate that popularity with hockey.

[Guest DeveGowda]

Every business works for money and I wont blame L Modi or BCCI for it BTW if they really take over hockey and make hockey IPL then they would also include foreign players I suppose ... that would make them the biggest body in world hockey too like BCCI is in cricket already.. that would mean BCCI dominating two of 3 most popular games in the world - Cricket and Hockey ... that would mean BCCI would grown bigger than FIFA maybe and become the world's biggest and most powerful sports governing body :yay::yay::yay:

I dont think so....if hockey Cant become even 10 % as big as Cricket india..only one sport can truly dominate here..... Football is played in 180 countries....