New Delhi: The Eden Gardens in Kolkata has hit a roadblock with the sponsorship plans in selling its naming rights to a company. BCCI rules state that now stadium is allowed to do such thing.
According to a report in The Indian Express, CAB sources have claimed that BCCI president Shashank Manohar had been made privy to the initiative but he clearly denied this side of the story.
Manohar stated that no communications have been made with him in this regard. The BCCI rules has clearly mentioned that no stadium should be named after a company given the ICC events as there would be a conflict between the interest of sponsors.
Manohar added that these issues should be clearly discussed with the Indian Cricket Board as it will be taken into consideration before allocating matches.
Further reports claim that, the CAB under its new president Sourav Ganguly, has decided to sell the naming rights of the Eden Gardens under the supposed grounds that it will help the state association earn in excess of Rs 5 crore every year.
Sources have claimed that, on Wednesday, a working committee meeting was held where members unanimously agreed to float tenders with the highest bidder securing the sponsorship rights.
As the state association goes ahead with its plans, it also risks its stature in losing international matches.
A CAB official claimed that they have to take permission from the Army as the Eden Gardens is not CAB's property. The Army can sell naming rights if the CAB gets permission as they have a lease agreement. He further went on to add that the Army hadn't been approached yet.
After the meeting the CAB official also stated that the committee approved the proposal to give scoreboard sponsorship to Reliance Jio, a brand under Mukesh Ambani-owned industries. The committee feels that they would be able to strike a deal with the ICC despite Reliance Communications being an official partner of the sports cricket body.
But what will lie in store is that a problem may surface up in the Indian Premier League where franchises have branding rights of match venues.
Kolkata Knight Riders use the Eden Gardens as its home stadium, and are a direct rival of Mumbai Indians, which is owned by Mukesh Ambani.
