The Glazers have been advised against investing in The Hundred
Matchroom Sport supremo Barry Hearn has suggested The Hundred's future looks bleak amid word the Glazer family are considering a £650million investment.
That's the total value of the 49% stakes understood to be up for grabs in the competition's eight teams. It's reported Manchester United's majority owners are weighing up a plan to buy almost half of Lord's-based cricket franchise London Spirit – but Hearn wouldn't go anywhere near the deal himself.
The reigning emperor of darts, snooker, boxing and other sports is always open to a deal – as long he sees a pathway to take said field forward. But that can't be said for his view of the 100-ball cricket competition, which will enter its fifth season in 2025.
"I don't think The Hundred's got a great future," Hearn told Mirror Sport on the eve of the 2024 Mosconi Cup, which kicks off in Florida on Saturday. "I think it look's a bit too samey for me."
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The Hundred first launched in the summer of 2021 at a time when the world was hungry for new sport in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. And despite receiving an initial positive reception, it appears fans have reverted to the more established formats in recent years.
Sportcal reported viewership for the men's competition fell by 28% on Sky this past season, while the number of people tuning into the women's game dropped by 41% on the broadcaster. Some have suggested there are too many versions of limited-overs cricket already, not to mention keeping up to speed with every other variation of the sport.
The Glazers have taken a back seat in the running of United since Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought an initial minority share in the club. Seemingly keen to dip into another area of British sport, however, they've been warded off investing in cricket following Hearn's previous poor experience.
Barry Hearn is a huge cricket fan - but he doesn't believe in The Hundred model
"I love cricket. I love cricket and wanted to get involved years ago, but then I met with the authorities and put my plans together. I was horrified by how little support I got," he continued. "They'd just close the doors if they could get away with it. Now, they've got it nice. They've got their expenses, their first-class fares... it's just not the same."
The England and Wales Cricket Board copped criticism for its poor planning of the 2024 edition of The Hundred, which clash with the Paris Olympics. Former England international Michael Vaughan told The Telegraph he felt the ECB "screwed up" its scheduling by not moving this year's competition to a different date.
Looking at sports opportunities in the UK on a broader scale, Hearn went on to suggest it's perhaps not a good time for investment. And the Glazers may be wise to heed his words as he suggested excessive red tape and a lack of funding from those in power is to blame.
"I'm a commercial promoter. I make money, but also I boost prize moneys to a level they've never seen before. That's my job," he said. "That's what I do! But I suddenly get the feeling - both in the government and various bodies - they pay lip service to [new enterprise].
"So it's all well very well saying, 'well done, you've done ever so well. Come have your picture taken at 10 Downing Street.' But that doesn't help the grassroots.
"And it's all about money. People hate it when I say that, but it's absolutely true. You don't pay people significant money to change their lives, why should they dedicate their lives to entertaining us at a level that we want to watch? But they don't want to pay them the money that reflects the sacrifices they've made."
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