Franchise cricket is coming to Dublin with serious ambition, and we wanted to understand what it takes to make that kind of leap in Europe.
After the summer break, we sit down with Warren Deutrom, the driving force behind the European T20 Premier League, to talk through the reality behind the hype: the false starts, the relief of finally getting matches played, and the hard evidence you need once the lights go on, from crowds and feedback to broadcast traction.
We dig into the original problem the league tries to solve for Irish cricket and its neighbours: how do you give local players consistent access to world-class T20 standards when the biggest leagues are elsewhere?
Deutrom explains why a three-nation footprint with six city-based franchises is the most credible starting point, and why year one is all about proving the concept, even when the costs of infrastructure and broadcast production run into the millions.
The commercial story is just as important as the cricket. We talk investment risk, why India sits at the centre of the funding and audience opportunity, and how Olympic cricket changes the long-term European landscape for recognition and support.
We also get practical about the Dublin leg in Malahide: what the matchday experience will feel like, what kind of scores to expect, and how the league hopes to welcome both local clubs and Ireland’s Indian community.
If you care about the business of sport, sports marketing, broadcast growth, and what modern fan experiences look like, this one is for you.
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