We are not here just to make profit: CTL Bangalore side

Owner of the Bangalore Raptors, a team in the upcoming Champions Tennis League (CTL), today said that profit making was not the motive behind joining the new tennis venture even as they hope to break-even in the second year.
Mittu Chandilya, who is also also Air Asia CEO, spoke to PTI after the official launch of the team jersey.
"The idea is always to cover the cost, whatever we make, and put back something into social and community development. I love to have academies that you can start bringing in your young tennis players who do not have opportunities to learn," Chandilya said.

"I think, we should break-even in the second year. I don't think we will break-even in the very first year," he said.
Asked when he expects the league to break even, Chandilya said, "It should be able to break-even around the third year."
Chandilya said it was an aggressive target to achieve and felt tennis has lot more potential than other sports - cricket and football - to break-even.

"I think it is an aggressive target. Frankly, I have looked at IPL as a company. I have looked at Indian Super League as an opportunity. I think this (tennis) has lot more potential," he said.

Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, who has conceptualised the league, hopes that the league would break even in the third year.
"We are looking from an angle knowing well that there is a gestation period for the growth. I am hoping the league will break even in the third year. I wouldn't be crushed if it was fourth year," he said.
As for the league to survive, Chandilya said it was a challenge working with different portfolios and the goal of all the franchisees should be to keep the sporting event going.
"The league has a challenge working with different cities, communities, ambitions and other things. My goal is all the franchisees should work together to keep the league going," he said.

Chandilya said he is optimistic as he was when he joined Air Asia. "The way we do is making sure the cost is managed, the quality and revenue are high and so I am quite sure by second year we should break even," he said.
He further said that whether all franchisees will be able to make profits is difficult to say as they have put in a lot of money, keeping in mind the gestation period before growth.
"First year, you wouldn't get sponsors because you are so late. November is in the end of the budget year," Chandilya said.

The Air Asia CEO however was all praise for the Pro-Kabaddi League and regretted they could not become a part of it.
"We missed Kabaddi League. The proposal came and we were so busy launching our airline," he said.