Sports
Matix joins Mumbai City FC as associate partner
Alliance aims to boost youth fitness and India’s football ambitions
MUMBAI: In a move that blends boardroom vision with on-pitch ambition, Matix has announced an associate partnership with Mumbai City FC for the ISL 2025 to 26 season.
Promoted by Nishant Kanodia, Matix will feature as the Jersey Pendant sponsor on the club’s first team matchday kits. The brand will also enjoy a strong presence at the NMSA training facility and the Mumbai Football Arena, placing it at the heart of India’s top flight football action.
The collaboration signals a shared commitment to discipline, performance, and long-term value creation, both on and off the pitch. By aligning with one of the country’s most professional football platforms, Matix hopes to inspire young Indians to embrace sport, fitness, and teamwork as pathways to personal growth.
India’s premier football competition, the Indian Super League, operates under the governance of the All India Football Federation. Partnerships such as this play a vital role in nurturing high performance environments while expanding football’s footprint across the country.
Speaking on the partnership, Kanodia said football represents excellence and resilience, adding that supporting a professional club like Mumbai City FC reflects Matix’s belief in sport’s ability to inspire millions of young Indians to pursue healthier, more disciplined lifestyles.
Mumbai City FC CEO Kandarp Chandra, welcomed Matix to the club’s growing partner ecosystem, noting that the company’s long-term outlook aligns with the team’s ambition to consistently compete at the highest level and elevate Indian football’s global standing.
As Indian clubs continue to make their mark in continental competitions, the next step lies in nurturing homegrown talent capable of competing on the international stage. Matix believes that sustained investment in elite sporting platforms can help India strengthen its presence in global qualification pathways, from Olympic participation to future Fifa World Cup campaigns.
Beyond branding, the partnership will see Matix and Mumbai City FC engage fans through digital content, matchday activations, and initiatives designed to promote physical fitness and a responsible sporting culture.
Together, the two aim to champion a more aspirational and globally competitive football ecosystem in India, one goal at a time.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
