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JSW Sports, the sporting arm of steel major JSW, said newer sporting leagues and expanding canvas of digital audience is offering avenues for investments.
The company, which has already invested in football, wrestling, kabbadi besides promoting a host of athletes, said it is evaluating for opportunities to invest in hockey and cricket.
It is also looking to scale up its revenues through merchandise and onground activities.
“Newer leagues have given us opportunity to invest and build teams. We are constantly evaluating on how to scale up the revenues of our existing teams. We are also looking to unlock value and monetise through various associations to take sports to the next level,” JSW Sports CEO Mustafa Ghouse told BusinessLine.
Asked if the company may look at owning an IPL or hockey league team, Ghouse said it is considering. “We may look at any business provided it is sustainable,” he added.
JSW Sports investments include football team Bengaluru FC, Pro Wrestling Franchise Bengaluru Yodha and newly acquired kabbadi team Haryana Steelers.
While Ghouse did not indicate any investments it plans to make or even revenues generated from the sports vertical. “We are continuously stepping up investments. Owning a team is long term business. We are growing backed by the growth in digital and broadcast network,” Ghouse, who is also a former tennis player, added.
Asked on its investments in the newly acquired team of Pro kabbadi league, Ghouse said Pro Kabbadi league was showing promising growth. “Last season of Pro Kabbadi League had had generated considerable interest both on ground and in terms of viewership. We expect this season also to have a good run,” he added.
According to ESP Properties- SportzPower report said, that both cricket and non-cricket held their own trajectory, and together pushed the industry forward. Sports Sponsorship saw a 19.33 per cent growth in 2016 to ₹6,400 crore as opposed to the preceding year.
The biggest growth driver for Sports Sponsorship in 2016 was the media spends growing 24.63 per cent from ₹2816.9 crore to ₹3510.8 crore.
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