Early December, I wrote an article titled ‘Too much spin in lead-up to Big Bash League,’ criticizing the apparent over-marketing and pomp surrounding the new T20 Big Bash League.
I discussed how the league was clearly an exercise in marketing and promotion, and was really devoid of substance.
After four games, and after witnessing my local Strikers lose in a rather underwhelming match to the Hobart Hurricanes, I can honestly say my opinions have changed, but only marginally.
My concern over the marketing and spin-diluting crowd passion may have been mislaid. 27,000 plus people turned up at the Adelaide Oval to watch the affair, and what struck me about the crowd (which wasn’t especially rowdy by usual standards – even the guy in front of me attempting to work the Hill into a Mexican Wave was allowed at least a dozen attempts without attracting attention from security or the crowd) was the amount of blue throughout.
Blue t-shirts, blue wigs (handed out for free at the gate), blue jackets, some blue shirts from other sporting codes, and, most impressive, people in Strikers merchandise.
At face value, it would appear Adelaide at least embraced the new boys on the scene.
But a closer look revealed something different.
The temperature that night was a perfect mid-twenties, without a cloud in the sky, and little to no breeze. Adelaide Oval was a paradise that night, especially when camped out on the Hill and once the sun had fallen below the members’ stands.
The following day was a public holiday for most people, and even if it wasn’t, the game ended not long after ten.
My point?
It was T20 at its best – and most people didn’t care who was playing. The atmosphere of the crowd and that provided by just being at the ‘Oval with a beer on a perfect night was the great, crowd-pleaser.
Some support for the team existed amongst the crowd, but really, boundaries, big hits and wickets were all anyone wanted to see.
The boys in blue may have had some die-hards in the crowd, but if I had a dollar for every call of ‘where are the Redbacks?,’ ‘Go you SMURFS’ and someone explaining to another person in the crowd why Hobart was in purple and Adelaide was in blue, I could have bought the franchise.
Really at the end of the day, for all the marketing and spin, it was cricket, good times and perfect weather that drew the crowds. As it should be.
The added bonus, of course, for the Strikers is their success – second on the table below the surprising Hobart Hurricanes and their unbeatable bowling attack.
No doubt these two teams (weather and beer prices permitting) will keep drawing big crowds, but this wont comfort CA.
27,000 at Adelaide Oval and 20,000 at Bellerive doesn’t match up with the 50,000 at the MCG or 30,000 at the SCG, I’m sure they would have liked.
In the short term, the Strikers and Hurricanes may have won over their small markets with the help of some, rather well-timed good weather and holiday periods, but this would be small comfort for BBL organizers.
I stand by my assertion that it won’t be the marketing of CA that wins over crowds but the cricket, and the success of the teams involved.
And what the hell, I’ll be buying a blue Smurfs playing shirt soon, so maybe I was wrong about the crowd passion.
Go Strikers!
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