At first, there were tiny doubts about whether it shall go forward, after a rising number of Covid-19 cases in Kochi, Kerala– the original hosts for the premier volleyball league. But after careful deliberation and keeping the current situation in mind, Mishra and his team decided to shift the venue to Hyderabad a couple of weeks ago.
Seven teams shall be participating in the three-week event, namely the Bengaluru Torpedoes, Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Ahmedabad Defenders, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Chennai Blitz and Kolkata Thunderbolts. The seven franchises shall contest in a single round-robin format, with the top four making it to the semifinals.
PVL 2022 will consist of a total of 24 matches, including the three knock out matches spread over 23 days, which shall be broadcasted on Sony Sports Network.
Over 450 players registered for the glorious auction on December 14, 2021, although each team could only pick 12 players plus 2 reserves. However, the number of interested individuals speaks volumes of the kind of landscape that can be built around the sport in the country.
Mishra, who is keen to provide a platform to every individual in the sport, revealed his plans for the same:
It is also important to understand that the RuPay Prime Volleyball League shall be run as an independent IP (intellectual property). Such single entity structures are uncommon in India, but have been followed in several professional leagues in America, for example the MLS (Major League Soccer). So getting such a tournament off the ground is a challenge.
However, Mishra listed down the various stakeholders that have provided a lot of support to him and his team to conduct the competition independently.
To provide more perspective into the world of a single entity structure like RuPay Prime Volleyball League, the owners of the seven franchises are also equal stakeholders in the league. Again, this is one of the first times an Indian event, which combines sports and entertainment, is likely to function like this on such a grand stage. But few understand how things unravel behind the scenes and how major decisions are addressed and touched upon.
Mishra shed some light on this topic and explained that everybody involved is working towards the same goal. He said:
Baseline Ventures are pleased with the sponsors on board for the RuPay Prime Volleyball League
Garnering high-quality sponsors for the inaugural season of any competition comes with its own challenges and perks. But PVL has done a stellar job at bagging partners like RuPay, Cred, EatFit, BYJU’S and several others.
However, the tournament’s alliance with A23 is one that is unique and interesting. A23, an online gaming platform of Head Digital Works’, runs rummy and fantasy sports and shall be be the associate title sponsor for PVL 2022. The online fantasy sector of India’s Esports market was valued at over ₹20 billion in 2021. So for A23 to see the potential of running fantasy volleyball by partnering with PVL is a huge deal.
Mishra believes their sponsorship deal with A23 could have a major impact in the big scheme of things. He explained:
However, with Covid-19 continuing to be a mitigating factor in India, PVL is set to be held in a closed-door environment. In such a scenario, one cannot help but wonder if optimal value can be delivered to the sponsors, especially since sponsorship activations could prove to be a tough task with no fans in the stadium.
Yet Mishra sounds confident about satisfying each and every sponsor onboard and has outlined a plan for the same. He said:
Alternatively, the lack of fans in the stadium also means that PVL could place greater emphasis on engaging the supporters of the tournament through social media and digital technologies. Content is king in the market, and a high volume of activity combined with excellent content can go a long way in keeping the fans engaged and up-beat about the various aspects of the competition.
Mishra is keen on delivering the same and revealed how the social media team is approaching it.
Retaining top players, and the roadmap for the future
The single entity structure adopted by PVL is certainly a fascinating element. Few have pulled off anything like this before, and even fewer are unaware of the rules and regulations that bind it together. For example, it could be a task to retain the top players in the league, especially if a competitor tournament is formed that rivals the values and structure of the PVL.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), which is one of the most successful sporting leagues in the world, does not suffer this problem, as the BCCI has not allowed Indian players to take part in foreign leagues unless they have retired from all forms of the game and obtained a No objection certificate.
But PVL may not be able to count on similar aspects, since they are an independent league. Although there isn’t any particular competition currently, there is no saying how things will pan out in the future.
Regardless, Mishra is currently only focusing on the inaugural season of PVL and is self-assured of tackling the prospect of a competitior league if and when it comes up.
To delve a little deeper into the future of PVL, many might be wondering what the coming years hold for the event. From the looks of it, there is a lot of commitment from all the stakeholders to continue broadening the horizons of the league and working towards building a sustainable tournament that continues to provide chances to countless volleyball players around the country.
Mishra explained the reasons behind why he is convinced that this league shall continue for multiple seasons. He said:
There is a great desire to make the first season of the RuPay PVL into a successful one and then build on it. Volleyball is a sports market that is yet to be exploited completely, and Baseline Ventures has identified it. Their execution has been brilliant so far and one would hope this could be the beginning of a major sports league in the country.
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