Champions Boat League: Auctioning off teams unlikely during first season

Thiruvananthapuram: Though Champions Boat League (CBL) is claimed to be enjoying an increased popularity with every race, the state tourism department is unlikely to auction off the nine competing teams until the completion of CBL’s first season.

Now halfway through, the inaugural edition of the country’s first-ever boat racing event modelled on the IPL format of cricket is getting its due exposure in sports and local TV channels and social media networks, claims the tourism department.

“We are getting very encouraging TRP (television rating point) in all the channels and people have now understood the league format and are now following the event,” said tourism director P Bala Kiran.

But, according to tourism officials, it’s not time yet to sell the franchise – auctioning off the nine participating teams in this snake boat racing event – which the department had failed to do before debuting the event due to poor response from potential bidders.

Around 10 potential franchisees are now getting invited to every race and there’s a big effort to attract more bidders. But, another hasty auctioning would undervalue the product and the department will have to settle for lower prices, it is learnt.

Though the department is yet to take a final decision, the auctioning will most likely take place after the inaugural edition, which will conclude with the President’s Trophy Boat race in Kollam on November 23. Six out of the total 12 races have been held and the seventh one is slated to be held in Ponnani in Malappuram district this Saturday.

“People have now understood the league format and now there’s a strong contest in every race. There are new leaders in the point table, and the fifth race in Kochi saw the consecutive winner in last four races getting toppled,” Kiran said.

The CBL is already a well-oiled machine, ‘a feat which we expected to achieve by the 10th race’, the tourism director said. “It’s being promoted in six languages now (English, Hindi and various south Indian languages) and after each race, the CBL is getting more sponsors. We now have four sponsors, including a co-sponsor, two associate sponsors and one for presentation. We have made tremendous progress in building the brand and fan loyalty,” he added.

The department has also reworked the clauses which put off potential franchisees, and has ensured a minimum three-year permanency for nine teams in CBL.

Info

CBL standings after Race 6

Tropical Titans 83

Raging Rowers 41

Mighty Oars 40

Coast Dominators 37

Pride Chasers 30

Back Water Knights 26

Back Water Warriors 18

Thunder Oars 17

Back Water Ninjas 13