The Sydney Thunder have announced they will play home games at Spotless Stadium for the next 10 years. As a Thunder fan, this is the best cricketing news all winter – that and Michael Hussey saying he will go around for one more season.
Spotless Stadium will be a massive contrast for the Thunder, their players and their fans compared to their former home venue, ANZ Stadium.
The change is a move in the right direction and could well lead to a lift in performances for a club that has struggled since the inception of the Big Bash, particularly compared to their crosstown rivals the Sydney Sixers.
The first major advantage of the move to Spotless Stadium is improved atmosphere. ANZ Stadium is giant, and when sold-out has an incredible atmosphere, however for regular Big Bash games the venue is lucky to be a quarter full, with an atmosphere that does no favours.
With Spotless’ recent expansion to a capacity of 25,000, most games should come close to selling out and it will be a much better atmosphere, spurring the team on to better performances.
Furthermore, ANZ is not ideal for watching cricket, particularly of the T20 variety. A slow pitch made life hard for batsman while uneven boundaries around the ground, due to it generally being a rugby league ground, made things even worse for fans.
While the pitch at Spotless may not be any better than ANZ, the ground itself should lead to a better spectacle for fans. And after last year’s farce of a game against the Strikers, where it was just about impossible to score a run, a 10-year commitment at Spotless should mean the pitch will be worked on to have it adequately prepared for the rigours of hosting top-level cricket.
“We believe that we have the best stadium in Australia to watch BBL cricket, and I can’t wait to see Mike and the rest of the team take the field in front of a packed house,” said Thunder general manager Nick Cummins.
Hussey has said this will be his last season, and the Thunder will look to send him out on a high.
So Roarers what do you reckon – is the move to Spotless the right one and can the Thunder send Michael Hussey out on a high in the upcoming BBL 05?
mds1970
Roar Guru
I can't help wondering if this is clearing the decks for ANZ to be reconfigured to a rectangular stadium in 2017.
Big Steve
Guest
ANZ is not having a good run. Swans, Waratahs and now Thunder not renewing their contracts. Wonder what there long term plans are?
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
Scott: have you been to Spotless yourself to watch cricket.? It looks a good venue on TV but at the ground what's it like? I am considering going myself this year. It was interesting last season that at the match I saw on TV I barely recognised the ground since I am used to GWS games with row after row of empty orange seats
Paul Nicholls
Roar Guru
mds1970: I think a name change is essential. I would go even shorter - West Sydney Thunder sounds good to me
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Top idea, great venue.
jamesb
Guest
Great decision. Common sense really. There should be a great atmosphere at Spotless, even if its half full. Like others have said, just need to improve the pitch. Last season, it was the worst pitch been used in the BBL by a long way. So with Swans and Thunder leaving ANZ, the case for ANZ to be permanently rectangular is getting stronger.
Jim
Guest
Seems well and truly that ANZ is lining up to get renovated to a rectangle stadium, should it get funding from the NSW Government. The last of its oval requiring tenants in now gone. Good move by the Thunder, makes perfect sense. Despite the popularity of BBL cricket, its unlikely that they are going to need a ground larger than Spotless for 99% of their games - and it is a great ground for watching sport at.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Maybe for the identity to play on the east-west divide and become Western Sydney Thunder or something similar. But to play at Manuka would push the GWS parallel just a touch too far.
mds1970
Roar Guru
The pitch at Spotless wasn't up to standard last season; but if they can get that right for the T20 next summer it'll be a great cricket venue. Spotless has a good atmosphere even with a low crowd; and for the derby game when they would likely sell it out, it'll be sensational.
Wayne
Roar Guru
If they can get the pitch right, and build an identity that's more than "were not the Pink Sydney" then they should be fine. Surprised Manuka Oval doesn't get an occasional game