Glazers Bid $1.8 Billion for RCB: IPL Enters a New Financial Era
Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer enters the race to acquire the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise.
The Indian Premier League is witnessing another surge in global investor interest after Avram Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United, submitted a bid to acquire Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The reported offer of about $1.8 billion (₹14,940 crore) underscores the league’s transformation into one of the world’s most valuable sports properties.
Parent company Diageo is understood to be exploring either a minority or full stake sale in the Bengaluru franchise, with expectations that the final valuation could approach $2 billion. While neither Diageo nor Glazer has officially commented, the potential deal highlights how IPL franchises are now being priced alongside elite global sports assets.
The scale of the numbers reflects how dramatically the league’s financial landscape has evolved. When the RPSG Group acquired Lucknow Super Giants for ₹7,090 crore (about $940 million) in 2021, it was considered a benchmark moment. Less than five years later, Royal Challengers Bengaluru could command nearly double that figure, signalling the IPL’s arrival as a premium global investment platform.
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Glazer is reportedly not the only interested party. Private equity heavyweights such as Blackstone Inc. and The Carlyle Group are also believed to be evaluating bids, alongside several Indian industrial groups. Sources indicate that a shortlist of potential buyers could emerge in the coming weeks as the sale process gathers momentum.
The Glazer family has been steadily expanding its footprint in cricket. Beyond owning the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Avram previously attempted to secure an IPL expansion franchise in 2021 and later invested in the Desert Vipers in the UAE’s ILT20 league. Analysts say the IPL’s central revenue model, long-term media deals, and rapidly growing fan base continue to attract deep-pocketed global investors.
Despite not having won an IPL title, Royal Challengers Bengaluru remain one of the league’s strongest commercial brands, driven by loyal fan support and strong sponsorship appeal. Market watchers say that if the franchise valuation crosses the $2 billion mark, it could reset pricing expectations across the league and further cement the IPL’s position among the world’s most lucrative sports ecosystems.
Also Read: Avram Glazer Bids $1.8 billion for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
