The Glazer family, the controversial owners of Manchester United, have reportedly made a staggering £1.3 billion bid to acquire an Indian Premier League cricket franchise, marking their third attempt to break into the lucrative Indian market after two previous failures.
Ambitious Bid for Cricket Dominance
According to sports business reports, Avram Glazer is leading the charge through his investment firm Lancer Capital, with offers submitted for both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Rajasthan Royals. The bid for Bengaluru, estimated at approximately $1.8 billion, positions the Glazers among the highest bidders in a competitive field of nine parties vying for the current IPL champions.
Previous Setbacks and Current Strategy
The Glazers' interest in Indian cricket is not new. In 2021, they unsuccessfully bid for what became the Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans expansion franchises, with their offers reportedly being the lowest among contenders. The Lucknow team ultimately sold for over £686 million to the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, while CVC Capital Partners acquired Gujarat Titans for £541 million.
Undeterred by these setbacks, the family appears determined to secure a foothold in what has become the world's most commercially successful T20 cricket league. The IPL's exponential growth and financial potential have made it an attractive target for international sports investors seeking to diversify their portfolios.
Ownership Complications and Cricket Portfolio
Complicating matters are the Board of Control for Cricket in India's regulations, which prohibit multi-franchise ownership within the IPL. Should the Glazers succeed with either bid, they would need to choose between Bengaluru and Rajasthan, as they cannot own both franchises simultaneously.
Avram Glazer already maintains cricket interests through Desert Vipers, a franchise in the United Arab Emirates' ILT20 tournament. His ambition to leverage the Manchester United brand in cricket was previously demonstrated through discussions about creating a "Manchester United cricket team" for the UAE T20 league, though copyright issues prevented this concept from materializing.
Broader Sports Empire and Indian Interests
The Glazer family's sports portfolio extends beyond football, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL franchise alongside their Manchester United ownership. Their Indian aspirations aren't limited to cricket either, with reports suggesting they held talks in 2022 about acquiring Indian Super League football side East Bengal, as revealed by cricket legend Sourav Ganguly.
Manchester United Context and Recent Changes
While pursuing cricket investments, the Glazers have maintained their controversial ownership of Manchester United since 2005, though they sold a 26.2 percent stake to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe for £1.3 billion in February 2024. Ratcliffe now oversees the Premier League club's day-to-day operations, potentially freeing the Glazers to focus on expanding their sports investments elsewhere.
The family's renewed push into Indian cricket comes as the IPL continues to break commercial records, with franchise values skyrocketing and global interest reaching unprecedented levels. Their substantial £1.3 billion bid reflects both the league's current market value and the Glazers' determination to finally secure an IPL franchise after multiple attempts.
