NZ cricket does US deal

NZ Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan. Photo / Warren Buckland

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is set to sign off on a deal with the United States which is hoped will generate up to $1 billion in revenue and see New Zealand play Twenty20 matches across America.

There is also a blueprint to form an Indian Premier League-style Twenty20 league in some of the United States' most iconic cities, Sydney's Herald-Sun newspaper reported today.

The deal, brokered by former New South Wales cricketer Neil Maxwell, sees Maxwell's Australian-based company, NZC, the United States cricket association and investor Top Bloom and Podar Holding International join forces with the aim of capitalising on the popularity of Twenty20 cricket and the significant number of people from traditional cricket nations who live in the United States.

The newspaper suggested the deal could eventually generate $1 billion through revenue streams, with opportunities for Cricket Holdings America to form corporate partnerships with global brands and broker broadcast rights with major television networks.

As a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), New Zealand's involvement would provide the United States access to international status games, coaching programmes and support that will extend from the grassroots to elite level.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said the deal had been "99.9 per cent" agreed and would be a medium to long term partnership which would not be a financial risk to NZC.

"We know that cricket is not going to take off in the US immediately but there is a significant population that would like to see cricket developed and promoted," he told Radio Sport today.

"In the early stages, this venture will lose money. NZC is shielded from a financial risk but we need an investor to come in who believes in the long-term future of cricket in the US."

Vaughan told the newspaper New Zealand would benefit from broadening a small population with just one pay-TV sports channel to a market that is counted in the hundreds of millions and provided limitless broadcast and commercial opportunities.

"With a population of four million, New Zealand is a limited marketplace," Vaughan said.

"We have historically punched above our weight through leadership and innovation. [Cricket Holdings America] is a significant step in diversifying our long-term revenue base, and in the process, growing a new market."

Rajiv Podar, who is the major investor in the American project and runs century-old Podar Enterprises, told the Sun-Herald he intended to take cricket to mainstream America, not just immigrants who originated from the subcontinent.

- NZPA