Majority of Hundred franchise deals finalized, delivering major cash boost for English cricket
English cricket is poised to receive a transformative financial injection, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) nearing the completion of franchise stake sales in The Hundred that will ultimately total £520 million. According to Sky News, the ECB will announce that six of the eight franchise deals have been completed, marking a major milestone in its commercialization of the competition.
The franchises with finalized sales include Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Southern Brave, and Welsh Fire. The remaining two – the Oval Invincibles and Trent Rockets – are expected to conclude their deals by October 1.
Landmark sale reshapes future of The Hundred
The franchise stake sales, which began with an auction in February valuing the eight teams at just over £975 million, bring in some of the world’s most prominent sports investors. These include billionaires, tech moguls, and top financiers – such as a consortium of technology leaders from Google and Microsoft, who reportedly paid £145 million for a 49% stake in the London Spirit, the most valuable transaction among the eight.
Each investor will hold up to 49% of their respective team, except in the case of Yorkshire’s Northern Superchargers, where India’s Sun TV Network has taken full ownership.
ECB retains control over competition, but grants key rights to investors
Under the revised agreements, franchise investors have secured several key rights. Host venues will retain the intellectual property for their respective teams, while investors will hold an effective veto over any future expansion of The Hundred.
Crucially, the ECB will remain the full owner of the competition and will regulate it, maintaining control over the scheduling window and broader tournament structure. However, it has agreed not to launch any competing short-format professional league while The Hundred remains active.
Cash-strapped counties and grassroots cricket to benefit
The £520 million windfall comes at a critical time for English cricket, with several counties burdened by longstanding financial pressures. The ECB plans to distribute the funds across all 18 professional counties, alongside an earmarked £50 million investment for the grassroots game.
For many counties, this financial boost is seen as a lifeline amid escalating debts and operating deficits.
Delays and branding hurdles for final two franchises
Despite the majority of deals being finalized, unresolved negotiations have held up the finalization of the Oval Invincibles’ stake sale. According to Sky News, discussions between Surrey County Cricket Club and the Ambani family – India’s wealthiest – have been complicated by branding issues. The Ambanis, who own the Mumbai Indians IPL franchise, are reportedly seeking to integrate elements of that brand into the Invincibles’ identity.
Statement expected imminently
Although the timing may still shift, Sky News reports that the ECB is likely to issue an official statement on Wednesday to confirm the progress. The announcement will come just ahead of the upcoming edition of The Hundred, which kicks off next week with a marquee fixture between London’s two franchises.
This development marks a watershed moment for English cricket’s commercialization strategy, setting the stage for a financially sustainable future as The Hundred enters its next phase.
