PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Caribbean Premier League organisers say they will explore pushing the increasingly popular Twenty20 tournament into Asia, as well as expanding the number of franchises involved and hosting them in North American cities.
The CPL has been focused on the Caribbean region for the first three season but organisers have scheduled games for Florida, United States for the first time this year.
Chief executive, Damien O’Donohoe, said though no time frame had been identified, there was a possibility of further expanding the venues for CPL matches.
“The great thing about this franchise model is that you can take it places. We’re taking it to America this year. We’ve had guys from Hong Kong, from Singapore, reach out to us about taking some games there, and also even Dubai,” he told leading cricket website, ESPN Cricinfo.
“That would obviously open us up to the Asian market. We’ll get through this year, regroup, and have a look at the tournament, have a look at some of those opportunities, hopefully outside of the region as well, so we can help grow and develop the CPL like we planned.”
The tournament, which bowled off yesterday and runs until August 7, will see 34 games played across seven venues. During the first three seasons, matches were hosted in the Caribbean but organisers this year have slated six for the Central Broward Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
In keeping with this expansion, O’Donohoe said an increase in franchises could definitely be a possibility by next year, with the cities of Toronto and New York emerging as good prospects.
“I think ideally, when you look at it – New York and Toronto – you’ve got to look where the big diaspora markets are,” he explained.
“That’s why we look at the sales. Over 50 per cent of our sales for Fort Lauderdale this year are from New Yorkers who are flying down. So I think New York and Toronto – if we had a choice, and there were stadia – would be our number one and two choices.”
He added: “Everything goes through the ICC so we’ll be sitting down with them in September and discussing what the future is with the CPL in the US.
“I think six teams in the Caribbean is optimal. If we had the chance to take a couple of teams into the US or Canada, that would be brilliant. But I think eight, really maximum ten, would be where we get in time.”
