Indian Super League Announces New Franchise Owners in Its Journey to Revolutionize Indian Football - Seite 2

Each of the winning bidders paid approximately $25 million for a 10-year franchise, valuing the original eight franchises at about $200 million. With the plan to add additional franchises over the next few years, that would suggest a future value for football in India in the neighborhood of $1 billion.

Leveraging the strengths of all its partners, the Indian Super League envisions creating new football powerhouses in that part of the world, which will rise to global prominence as the country and the sport further develops.

Announcement of the eight 'League Partners,' is the first major step towards setting the pace for the realization of a dream -- the dream of over a billion Indians to experience and embrace the beauty of football.

One of the prominent criteria in the process of 'League Partners' selection had been the commitment towards grass roots development -- an essential ingredient required for a systematic growth of the sport. In the first year, the Indian Super League along with its eight partners aims to reach one million kids through an in-school program and community development. Going forward, the league will endeavor to have a grassroots training module, along the lines of FIFA approved programs, for age specific coaching starting with U-8 and after five years, each of the League Partners to have a full-time academy.

"It is with great pride that I welcome the eight League Partners to the Indian Super League. We want to unlock the unbound aspirational energy of our youth through grassroots and community development programs," said Nita M. Ambani of Reliance Industries. "Together, we will strive to build a vibrant ecosystem that will provide impetus to football in India. As mentor of the League, I commit myself to development of football as a major sport for the youth of India."

India is uniquely placed as the youngest nation on the planet in terms of demographics and is poised to emerge as an economic superpower, having all the potential and aspiration to revel its sporting prowess.

"Today's announcement is the culmination of several years of hard work and strategic planning," said Michael Dolan, Chairman and Chief Executive of IMG and Chairman of IMG Reliance. "We are enormously pleased at the level of interest the creation of the Indian Super League has generated. We believe the League signals the beginning of a new era in the development of football in India and, in the future, will be the source of great pride for the people of India."