IPL to have new title sponsors after this edition, BCCI to open tender on May 31

The Indian Premier League is all set to have new title sponsors after the conclusion of this season. BCCI organized a meeting yesterday with the IPL governing council discuss the timelines and decided to open the tender for the sponsorship rights on May 31. IPL Chief Rajeev Shukla confirmed the same in a recent media briefing.

Currently, the title sponsors for IPL is Vivo but their contract expires post this edition of the IPL. For the first six years of the IPL, the title sponsors for the cash-rich league was DLF until 2013. The title sponsors of IPL for the next two years was with Pepsi. After their contract expired in 2015, the league came to be known as Vivo IPL post-2016 season.

Besides the officials of Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), members of COA (Committee of Administration) Vinod Rai, Vikram Limaye and Diana Edulji graced the meeting their presence to discuss the issue. Furthermore, the IPL Media Rights Invitation to Tender on the next rights period will commence on July 17. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for IPL Event Services contract will be floated on June 12.

Rajeev Shukla confirms the news

IPL Chief Rajeev Shukla in a recent interview with Times of India termed the meeting as successful as they Governing Council finalized on the timelines for the bidding to be taken place. Shukla stated that looking at the successful season of 2017, they hoped to obtain the value for the cricketing mega-event.

“I’m pleased that both the governing council and CoA members have finalized the timelines for the next rights period. If the success of 2017 season is an indication, I believe we will be able to get the best value and service for the world’s premier Twenty20 extravaganza. The early announcement will also help the prospective bidders/service providers to prepare well,” quoted Rajeev Shukla.

CoA happy with the proceedings

COA head Vinod Rai claimed that he was confident about the smooth conduct of the whole process, “I’m confident about the process and would like to assure all prospective participants the highest level of transparency and accountability,” said Rai.