Mumbai: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla on Thursday said the Franchise Workshop, which was held here on Thursday, focussed on ways to make the upcoming ninth edition of the cash-rich league more spectator-friendly.
Expresseing his satisfaction after the day’s proceedings, Shukla promised to make the 2016 IPL more ”bigger and better”.
“It was a very fruitful day with franchise representatives taking an active part in the exchanges. The main focus on how we can make experience of fans better, their comfort. The IPL fan-based parks were a huge hit last year. So from 16 fan parks across the countries, we are planning to increase it to 32. The IPL 9 will be bigger and better,” IPL chairman Shukla said.
However Shukla said that there was no discussion with the franchises on Lodha panel recommendations on the Twenty20 tournament.
“No there has been no discussions on that. First, BCCI members need to meet and discuss the recommendations by the panel. Our president Shashank Manohar is looking into the matter,” said he.
Citing a KPMG study, Shukla said the IPL contributed heavily to the UAE as well as Indian GDP in the last two editions on which a presentation was also made.
The IPL, to be played from April 8 to May 24, will witness the participation of two new teams – Pune and Rajkot – following the suspension of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two years. Both CSK and RR were handed the ban after the Supreme Court-appointed Justice RM Lodha committee found some of their officials and owners guilty of betting and corruption. (UNI)
