Over 61,000 for Kerala Blasters - Chennaiyin FC !!!! There will be european clubs to play friendly games in India the next summer ?
Great crowds, lets hope in a few years the skill level and domestic players improve (imagine India being an Asian powerhouse??)
The ISL is only popular and better than the domestic league is becvause of the foreign players. Focus on youth and naturalise overseas talent is the way forward for India
India: Will this be one of the world’s largest leagues? http://stadiumdb.com/news/2014/12/india_will_this_be_one_of_the_worlds_largest_leagues
I wouldn't focus on naturalising overseas players (unless they are migrants growing up in India). Far better simply to ensure that the grassroots are step up properly to grow the game and their international reputation. They have the money in India, but do they have the association and organisation to make this happen across the country (or will they focus on regions?)
very unlikely in next 5 years, but in 10-20 maybe if this good project continues and in a good way with other format like in China, Japan or SK...and games from 7 days to 7. Now, the program it's a little bit harsh.
For Bigsoccer moderators : this is the moment to create an India section like Japan, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia etc !!!
Why, hardly anyone has ever posted on the Indian threads.... End of ISL we have I.League....who will post then? If ISL lasted 8 months, you wouldn't have half the foreign players they have now, it's currently short and sweet and then they can go, not much commitment required.
Bengaluru was nearly in this edition, the pulled out. I feel, they evaluated it, and saw sense in staying committed to I.League, especially after they won the league...if they didn't win the league they might have entered. The owners, JSW, aren't short of money, but had lost £3m in the steel industry in the 6 months before the competition which may have been a factor.
ISL should replace the current Premier league.. now that its a 4 month league, soon enough it will be a whole season. there is more money and its a better franchise. and if these ISL teams invest in academies, it will be great for the future of India football
You hit it on the head though... Franchise. Teams come and go, enter via money. The I.League is based on merit..The I.League do need to look at the ISL and see how the can improve...night games, get the crowd in, entertainment before/after the show piece, but it doesn't happen. Teams can't afford to play at night and pay for floodlights etc
well when I mean franchise, we need to look at the A-league model in Australia. 10 teams, picked with alot of research of population, registered football players in the area and local talent to be nurtured into the first team.. ISL is great because its given popularity... a model which can reap financial success.
A-League isn't run on those lines....hence why Gold Coast and North Queensland were formed and disappeared very quickly...they were formed because of money over merit. They failed when they money couldn't buy players. I do feel that ISL is best at what it is...calls for expansion...expansion to what? Robert Pires...Anelka...don't last forever....the ISL has played on people who aren't required in Europe....to get any bigger means they need the big players in their prime, not on the down.
When I say A-league, I mean Salary cap 4 foreigners National Youth League Academies (feeder youth clubs) 1 team per city (initially- before expansion) plus additional rules such as min u21 players in starting lineup
I think ISL made exactly what J-league did 20 years ago. Bring some top player to popularize the sport among local. If this plan goes well, ISL might be the next big things in Asian Football. But unlikely to be in 5 years time. Maybe 10- 15 years from now. Youth development is the big aspects to be consider first
here are some numbers http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ccording-to-TAM-data/articleshow/45692508.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/A-whole-new-ball-game/articleshow/45737191.cms Not sure if an 11 week league can do that, but at least economically, it looks like it did pretty good.