Hero HIL Mini Players Auction to be held on 18 November 2013

New Delhi, 16 October 2013: The Hero Hockey India League Mini Players Auction/ Closed Bid will take place at Hotel The Lalit in New Delhi on November 18, nearly two months ahead of the second season of Hero HIL.

Hockey India Secretary General and Hero Hockey India League Chairman Dr. Narinder Batra said the Mini Players Auction/Closed Bid would give the franchisees the chance to buy new players to replace permanent withdrawals and complete their squads for the coming season. “The base prices for the players vary from $ 2,600 to $ 25,000,” he said.

“With the inclusion of a new team in HIL 2014, we can expect more spectacular hockey this time. The second season will be an exciting opportunity for the young and coming talent to leave its mark on this tournament,” Dr. Batra said. “We are sure Hero HIL 2014 will build on the massive landmark that the inaugural edition was.”

Nearly 154 players from India and overseas have made themselves available for the Hero HIL Mini Players Auction/Closed Bid. In the inaugural season, 70 top domestic players including the Indian national side as well as 50 international players who are part of the national squads of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands, Germany, Malaysia, Spain, and Argentina played for the five teams.

Of the 120 players who played in the inaugural Hero Hockey India League, 60 were Olympians. The list includes winners of the prestigious FIH Player of the Year Award including. Jamie Dwyer (2004, 2009, 2010, 2011), Teun de Nooijer (2003, 2005, 2006) and Moritz Fuerste (2012). Seven of the top 10 FIH rated players played in the Hero HIL 2013.

More than 41 million fans in India along with 29 million international fans watched the inaugural tournament, its reach was ahead of the UEFA Euro 2012. The inaugural season, won by the Ranchi Rhinos, was telecast in 146 countries. The largest marketing campaign for a hockey tournament saw record stadium walk ins and more than half a million fans liked the official Facebook page.

Star Sports, Broadcast Partner of the Hero HIL will telecast live all the matches. The second edition of the world’s most exciting and innovative hockey league will be played from January 23, 2014 with the final being scheduled for Sunday, February 23, 2014.