IPL chairman Lalit Modi claims 90 per cent of the tickets for the cash-rich Twenty20 event have been sold at the eight venues.

"The ticket prices had been aimed at filling the stadiums," Modi said at a press conference ahead of the event which will start with Chennai Super Kings taking on Mumbai Indians.

Modi said although the IPL would be returning to India next year, the long-term vision was to turn it into a global brand, much the same way as the English Football Premier League.

"Spectators will see the world's best players playing competitive cricket and it is made more compelling because of the competitive instincts of the players," he said.

The IPL chief said an important aspect of the marketing of the competition was advertising and Rand 120 million (USD 10 million) have been earmarked to attract spectators to the games.

The organisers are also spending time on local radio stations, introducing the players in the eight teams.

"IPL teams will be as popular as Man Utd, Chelsea"

Modi foresees the eight franchisees of the Twenty20 cricket event soon becoming as popular as iconic soccer clubs Manchester United and Chelsea.

"We hope IPL teams become worldwide teams like Manchester United and Chelsea. That's the objective and we are able to turn that into a reality now," Modi was quoted as saying by 'The Times'.

Modi said organisers of the league are working towards getting IPL teams the kind of devoted fan following that Manchester United and Chelsea have enjoyed world over for decades.

"Our aim is to build fan bases across the world. In England you have EPL (the Barclays Premier League) and they all have fans all over the world," he said.

"My son likes Manchester United. He has never been to a game but watches religiously on television. We want people to get attached to teams and it's a huge opportunity to build IPL as a global brand," he added.