Chris Dehring, the mastermind behind the iconic 2007 Cricket World Cup, is brimming with excitement for the upcoming T20 spectacle set to rock the West Indies and the USA next month. With his keen eye for the game’s pulse, Dehring confidently predicts a whirlwind of success, fueled by the staggering broadcast rights awaiting the tournament’s organizers.
The former organizing committee head spoke exclusively to CNW at the World Cup trophy tour event at the Central Broward Regional Park, the largest ICC-approved cricket facility in the USA.
Dehring who is also a marketing executive, said the tournament “will be financially successful just by virtue of the sheer quantum of broadcast rights. I mean, where that has gone to is just mind-boggling.” Dehring waxes lyrically about the technological marvels at play, promising fans an immersive experience like never before. This he said will increase the engagement of fans and spectators globally.
“Technological developments and audio-visual distribution around the world have dramatically changed,” he said, underscoring the access to the matches on a wide variety of mobile devices. Now you have the matches in your hand anywhere you are, so the world is your addressable market, which is just phenomenal,” he stated.
Tournament not without challenges
But amidst the buzz, Dehring injects a note of caution. “Venturing into the US brings unique challenges,” he acknowledges. He said there are reasons to be cautious. “it’s the first time that the event is being staged in the United States. So the US brings with it certain, extra challenges. It’s one of the world’s biggest targets, for instance, for international terrorism.”
He also pointed to the challenge of hosting the tournament in multiple countries. “It must be a special challenge because when we did it, we held it across 9 different Caribbean Islands. Now we’re holding it across 7 Caribbean Islands and another massive country. And you could literally call it 3 more countries,” referring to the states of New York, Florida, and Texas.
“Texas and New York are virtually countries. Broward County is bigger as an economy and geographically than many of the Caribbean islands. So you’re talking about 10, destinations with different legal regulatory environments. And so it’s a big challenge,” he indicated.
Commercial stakes
In pointing out the success factors for the host, Dehring said that “commercially, you want to try and put your best foot forward because it’s a sport you’re trying to grow in the United States.”
Highlighting the commercial stakes, Dehring stresses the importance of showcasing cricket’s charm to American audiences. “It’s not just about the game; it’s about fostering a cricketing culture in the States,” he asserts. “But with great opportunity comes great risk. One misstep and the liabilities could overshadow the rewards.”
“You have to be able to host the games to generate massive revenues. So that’s where the liabilities of hosting these events are. Everybody talks about the wonderful benefits of hosting major events, but what I always tend to focus on is the size of your liability if you mess up. And, so that’s the most important part.”
He cautioned the organizers to make sure they execute the matches as they are supposed to, which according to him will “generate the television returns that you would have contracted.”
The former banker said that if the above are done well the tournament will “be a phenomenally, financial windfall for both the Caribbean and the international cricket.”
Can West Indies win the T20 World Cup?
Looking at West Indies’ chances of winning the tournament, Dehring was cautiously optimistic. “It’s T20, so anything can happen. In fact, that is one of the challenges that West Indies as a unit faces. T20 has all of a sudden leveled the playing field amongst so many countries. There are now 84 ranked T20 teams. Nepal beat our West team the other day, and people were surprised.”
“The world of cricket has dramatically changed. Nepal is ranked number 16, West Indies is number 7, any number can play. Just like if Australia is ranked number one or India is ranked number one and West Indies is ranked number seven, any number can play.
Looking back at the 2007 tournament when he led the organizing team, Dehring admitted that even with the success of the tournament from a financial position, he has one lingering disappointment.
“We run a perfect World Cup in 2007. But at the end, you couldn’t help but just be so disappointed because our team didn’t do well.”
“At a final that West Indies was not at. And you had to be handing this trophy over to some other country in the Caribbean. There’s something about that I’ve been living with forever. Being on that podium, seeing that trophy being given to Australia in the Caribbean. Oh, it’s something that will devastate you.”
As the countdown to the T20 World Cup begins, set to commence on June 1st at the Central Broward Regional Park in South Florida, Dehring’s insights offer a glimpse into the excitement and challenges awaiting cricket enthusiasts and organizers alike. With twenty teams competing for glory, the stage is set for a captivating cricketing spectacle that promises to enthrall audiences until the final showdown on June 29th.
