Kerala Tourism’s Champions Boat League (CBL), India’s first-ever water-based boat race patterned on the IPL format of cricket, will make its debut next month. Mr.Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala will flag off the event on August 10, on the sidelines of the famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Alappuzha, in the presence of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
“Every detail has been worked out meticulously for the hassle-free conduct of the event. The preparations are moving to the final stages, “Mr. Kadakampally Surendran Minister for Tourism, Co-operation, and Devaswom while disclosing the structure, schedule and other details of the three-month-long event.
“CBL will bring benefit to all stakeholders. In a normal situation, the rowers used to benefit just from a single day’s work in a year. However, through CBL they will be able to make handsome gains,” he said.
Nine teams for the first edition of the boat race will be put up for bidding for franchisee acquisition at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty on August 1 (Thursday). Originally, the auction was scheduled to be held on July 29. Several Indian corporates with interest in national sports leagues have evinced keen interest in the acquisition of the teams. Celebrities have also shown interest in associating with the event. Bidders can share their Expression of Interest on franchisee@championsboatleague.in.
Apart from creating a new visual experience for the visitors, CBL will also benefit local communities in various ways. The league has been structured without compromising on the social aspects and local involvement in the boat races.
Kerala Tourism enhances tourist footfalls during the monsoon season, with events like‘Splash’ to promote ‘Mud Football’, romanticized the houseboat during monsoon and launched Nishagandhi Monsoon Raga Festival.
The nine teams or Boat Clubs for which bids have to be made are Pallathuruthi Boat Club; Police Boat Club; United Boat Club, Kuttamangalam, Kainakary; NCDC/Kumarakam; Village Boat Club, Edathua; KBC/SFBC, Kumarakam; Vembanad Boat Club, Kumarakam; Town Boat Club, Kumarakam; and Brothers Boat Club, Edathua.
The boat league will begin on August 10 with Nehru Trophy Boat Race on Punnamada Lake (Alappuzha) and end with the President’s Trophy Boat Race in Kollam on the state’s Formation Day (November 1). The other races during the intervening weekends are: Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha (Aug 17), Thazhathangadi, Kottayam (Aug 24), Piravam, Ernakulam (Aug 31), Marine Drive, Ernakulam (Sept 7), Kottappuram, Thrissur (Sept 21), Ponnani, Malappuram (Sept 28), Kainakari, Alappuzha (Oct 5), Karuvatta, Alappuzha (Oct 12), Kayamkulam, Alappuzha (Oct 19), Kallada, Kollam (Oct 26).
The CBL winner will get a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh, while those finishing second and third receive Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, respectively.
