Mumbai: GMR Sports, the sports activities administration division of GMR Group, is actively contemplating numerous strategic choices, together with a public itemizing, to unlock its inherent worth, in response to the corporate’s CEO PKSV Sagar.

The firm can be exploring avenues to safe a strategic or monetary investor for the holding firm, Sagar stated, whereas refraining from sharing particular particulars.

“There is a really sturdy intent on unlocking the worth on the GMR Sports degree, and we’re exploring as we converse. We haven’t selected whether or not it is going to be a stake sale or itemizing. It is tough to provide a timeframe. These are alternatives that can be evaluated over a while,” the CEO stated in an interview with Mint.

This transfer is a part of GMR Sports’ broader technique to maximise its potential within the aggressive sports activities trade.

Besides a 50% stake within the Delhi Capitals IPL franchise, GMR Sports owns UP Yoddhas in Pro Kabaddi and the Ultimate KhoKho franchise Telugu Yoddhas.

“We have been the unique house owners of the Delhi Daredevils, however in 2018, we divested a 50% stake within the staff to the JSW Group (for ₹550 crore). Last 12 months, we added the Women’s Premier League staff too. We additionally personal India Capitals within the Legends League.”

On a world scale, GMR Sports boasts Dubai Capitals within the UAE’s International League T20 and has not too long ago agreed, in precept, to purchase a minority stake within the Major League Cricket franchise, Seattle Orcas. Investors within the Seattle Orcas embody Satya Nadella, Soma Somasegar, Samir Bodas, Ashok Krishnamurthi, and Sanjay Parthasarathy.

Originally an infrastructure firm, GMR entered the sports activities enterprise following different massive teams that ventured into this phase.

Reliance Industries, Adani Group (Adani Sportsline), Tata Group, and JSW Group are a couple of of the foremost firms that personal sports activities franchises throughout a number of leagues.

“GMR sees lots of potential in sports activities, which is why the sports activities enterprise was carved out as a separate vertical with a really clear imaginative and prescient,” Sagar stated.

Under GMR Sports, the corporate intends to take part in any multiplayer sport in India, which it might probably consider and “see that it provides us that means to take part as a enterprise enterprise going ahead”.

“And if it is outside the country, we would like to limit ourselves to cricket for the moment. When opportunity comes in the global cricket market that’s how we have planned a strategy and plan to move forward,” the CEO stated.

He in contrast the sports activities trade’s challenges and dynamics of profitability to startup tradition, emphasizing the significance of staff valuation and the long-term profitability mannequin, drawing parallels to IPL groups’ success.

Sagar highlighted the success of GMR Sports’ Pro Kabaddi staff by way of viewership and sponsorships. He expressed optimism concerning the potential of indigenous sports activities like Kho Kho, foreseeing vital progress within the franchise mannequin over time.

“Our Pro Kabaddi staff is doing very properly, each by way of viewership in addition to sponsorships. To be trustworthy, you’ll be able to’t talk about cricket and different sports activities in the identical sense. They are chalk and cheese. But having stated that, what Kabaddi has accomplished to indigenous sports activities is any sport that is misplaced in transition, Kabaddi has introduced again the viewership and enthusiasm to observe the game,” he stated.

“Kho Kho can be an excellent sport to observe. It’s 28 minutes of pure pleasure. Probably it wants some extra consciousness, however whoever began watching it, is hooked on. This time the match was performed with 18 cameras, they usually have accomplished a fantastic job. I’m one of many largest supporters of the sport. As the years go by, kabaddi and kho kho will make massive waves on this franchisee mannequin.”

Additionally, GMR Sports has ventured into the health sector with a brand new gymnasium in Hyderabad. Sagar sees fashionable gyms as instrumental in model progress and health promotion, expressing optimism about increasing to a number of places throughout the nation if the preliminary response proves constructive.

“We discover that fashionable gyms with services which are equal for athletes in addition to regular frequent folks is a superb approach to develop not solely the model but additionally convey the idea of health amongst folks.”

“If everything goes well, we could have a few more Yoddha gyms all across the country. To start with, we are operating on our own, and going forward if it works, the franchise model should also be in the offing,” he stated.