Manchester Originals are setting their sights on becoming one of Manchester’s top sports teams, aiming to rival football giants Manchester United and Manchester City. This ambition follows the franchise’s majority stake purchase by RPSG, which secured a 70% share for £80 million.
Shashwat Goenka, vice-chairman of RPSG, emphasized that while the franchise is not competing in football, it seeks to establish itself as the city’s third-biggest sports team. Speaking from India, he highlighted Manchester’s reputation as a global sporting powerhouse, underlining the city’s deep-rooted cricketing heritage and passionate fan base.
If the deal is finalized, the Originals will join RPSG’s growing cricket portfolio, which already includes the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League and Durban’s Super Giants in South Africa’s SA20 league.
Despite originally pursuing London Spirit, RPSG ultimately focused on Manchester. While London Spirit’s 49% stake was sold for £144 million to a consortium including executives from Google, Microsoft, and Adobe, Goenka expressed satisfaction with the Manchester acquisition. He praised the city’s sports culture, Old Trafford’s significance, and Lancashire County Cricket Club’s rich legacy.
Weather concerns, a common issue for cricket in Manchester, were brushed aside, with Goenka admitting he had not considered the potential impact of rain.
The deal provides Lancashire with a financial boost exceeding £25 million, alongside a 3% share of the new TV deal set to commence in 2029. Lancashire’s CEO, Daniel Gidney, credited the late chairman David Hodgkiss for envisioning the growth of cricket in Manchester. Recalling Hodgkiss’s excitement during the 2019 India-Pakistan match at Old Trafford, Gidney acknowledged his influence in pushing for cricket’s expansion in the region.
Discussions on how to allocate the financial windfall are ongoing, with funds expected to be directed toward debt servicing and infrastructure improvements. Plans include upgrades to the cricket centre and enhancements to member facilities, as well as developments at Farington.
James Sheridan, chair of the Originals, tempered speculation regarding the Hundred’s expansion, noting that current franchise owners would need to evaluate its feasibility. Questions regarding potential rebranding, format changes from 100 balls to T20, scheduling shifts to accommodate the Indian market, and player contracts with franchises were met with caution.
For now, excitement surrounds the future of Manchester Originals, as they embark on a new chapter with aspirations of becoming a dominant force in the city’s sporting landscape.
