The metrics were overwhelmingly positive; as night after night the turnstiles clicked over and TV sets around the country tuned in en masse.
So it shouldn’t have come as any surprise when it was announced that the 2017/18 season will see the Big Bash League extended by eight games.
Since launching in 2011-12, six seasons of the BBL has seen massive growth in the T20 format. Particularly after going to free-to-air on Network Ten in the third season, interest has soared.
Attendances have grown steadily, and are now up around the 30,000 average. TV numbers have also risen every season, now up around one million viewers nationwide every night.
For Channel Ten, who received the BBL rights for $20m per season, almost as a consolation prize; the BBL has become a gold mine. Huge ratings every night, consistently beating every other sporting event or other programming being screened at the time.
Even the traditional January ratings powerhouse of the Australian Open has been unable to match it with the Big Bash; the tennis only out-rating the Big Bash during Nick Kyrgios’ train-wreck meltdown.
It’s not hard to see the appeal. You can see a whole game from start to finish in an evening. There’s plenty of big hits, non-stop action; and the slow passages of play from the longer forms of the games have been cut out.
Tickets are affordable, and there’s non-stop entertainment. Not just the game but the music, the flame-throwers, the gimmicks. There’s merchandise given away at the gates; and a kids zone with a bouncy castle. Fun for the whole family and no time for restless kids to be bored.
It’s a late night, with the games in prime time. But during school holidays, that doesn’t matter.
The first season saw each of the eight teams play seven games, everyone playing everyone else once. The next five seasons have had eight games for each team, four home and four away; playing each team once and one team twice.
The seventh season will see the season extended to ten games for each team. Five home and five away, facing three teams a second time. More derbies.
An extra home game increases the value of memberships and sponsorship packages. It’s a money-spinner for the clubs.
And, with the TV rights up for negotiation, the extra games will add to the value that Cricket Australia will receive from the broadcasters.
The ratings and crowds stay strong all season. It seems the public continue to keep on loving the Big Bash .
Extending the season looks a no-brainer.
Scheduling can be a challenge. It’s a tight fixture list at that time of year, between the Big Bash and the international program of Tests and one-day internationals.
Eight more games to fit in. Maybe they could squeeze in the odd double-header, maybe they could play Christmas Day. But there’s still nearly a week of extra games.
Do they fit those extra games at the start or the end? Crowds tend to be lower before Christmas, as the experience in 2012-13 showed.
But if they put the games on at the end, running into February, we’re running into the school term. Would families find the late nights more of a problem when there’s school the next day?
And would the extra days of the competition affect the availability of overseas players? Would they miss finals or important games because of commitments elsewhere? It’s a big unknown.
The Big Bash takes a break on nights when one-day internationals are played. That won’t change next year. The one-day international dates have already been announced.
But if the Big Bash is extended again at some stage in the future, could we see the one-day internationals moved to open up the current ODI dates to the Big Bash?
That in itself may not be a bad thing. If the one-day internationals were played in October-November before the Tests, it would create high-rating cricket content into a time of year when there’s not much other sport on. And having the one-day internationals at a different time of year would make the international players available to play Big Bash after the SCG Test is done and dusted.
Interest in the Big Bash would rise even further if the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith, and Mitchell Starc were able to join the Big Bash after the Tests were finished.
We’ve seen the club versus country issue surface. For West Indian players, where the Big Bash pays better than national team contracts, we’ve seen players make themselves unavailable for international duty so they can play T20.
Compare the star-studded West Indian team that took out the World T20 last year to the rabble that toured Australia last summer. The difference was players who were in Australia but playing the Big Bash.
I can’t help thinking that the Pakistan team that just toured Australia is ripe for being raided by T20 franchises. They can’t be enjoying never playing at home and having to play in front of 20 people on roads in the UAE desert heat.
That doesn’t affect the Australians yet. The national team contracts are very lucrative and pride in selection is high.
What of the domestic season? as it stands, half the Sheffield Shield will be played before the Big Bash, and then a break of nearly two months before it again resumes.
Sheffield Shield is important for the development of players and preparing them for Test cricket. And it’s a tradition of the game.
But the commercial reality is that the split Sheffield Shield season will remain. A competition that attracts 30,000 per day through the games and a million TV viewers a night trumps a competition that draws 100 a day and which no TV organisation will touch.
Sheffield Shield has to fit in around the Big Bash. The fans have spoken, and what they want comes first.
And domestic players would love the recognition of playing Big Bash; and the buzz of playing in front of crowds many multiples higher than any other form of cricket they’ll play at state level.
Does extending the Big Bash contribute to player burnout? It shouldn’t.
For the bowlers, the most injury-prone players, they’re being asked to bowl at most an extra eight overs. If that’s a problem, they can over-compensate for that by sitting out an ODI or Matador Cup game.
Does it contribute to spectator burnout? I haven’t seen any evidence that is imminent. The crowds keep coming every night, the TV audiences keep tuning in.
It’s only one more home game for each club, it’s only adding an extra week. Hardly a massive extension.
But if you’re feeling burnt out, or at risk of it, you always have the option to pick eight games and not watch them. Don’t go to them; and turn your TV off or watch something else. That is your right.
But it’s a right that 30,000 people in person and a million on TV each night won’t exercise.
Brendon
Guest
Too much of a good thing ... Theres no doubt that Australians these days are much more interested in franchise leagues than international events. In capitalism there is always the overwhelming desire to milk every profitable dollar from something. Thats fine in the business world but in entertainment no one is forced to watch or follow a product. Then there is individual greed within corporate structures. An executive is more motivated in increasing profitability in the short too maximise his/her bonuses, salary and reputation and has little regard for long term prospects since she/he will have moved onto other opportunities by the time everything goes to hell. But the positives. The ICC (ie India) has nothing to do with the BBL and can't get their grubby fingers on it. I'm not a fan of the BBL but it is extremely important to the financial future of cricket as it will provide Australian cricket a big revenue stream that the ICC can't destroy. Cricket Australia can make the right decisions without outside influences. Being a domestic franchise league it doesn't matter what teams perform well and those that don't (to a degree). Its a zero-sum situation. You see the problem in sports where international focus is the main focus in rugby union. Wallabies perform poorly then the sport takes a financial hit. Cricket Australia is not a typical corporation. A lot of the people are long term invested in cricket especially emotionally. Cricket isn't just a job, its their love and passion. Hopefully they make the right decisions but good intentions doesn't always lead to the right decisions. See George Piggins and Souths. Agreed about Channel 10. Viewers are attached to Channel 10. If it changes network then CA must insist that the new network keeps it the same as much as possible. The backlash against the current Channel 9 commentary taking over the BBL would be massive. School holidays obviously plays a huge factor and has to be acknowledged by CA. Maybe having the semis and final after school goes back won't be a huge problem since there is automatically a big interest in those games. I believe extending the end of the regular season past the end of school holidays would be a problem. Expanding to 10 first and then a detailed review before going to 12. Rushing to 12 teams could be a major problem. Once the new Perth stadium is up and running then a second Perth is a very strong option. Either a Gold Coast team playing at Carrara Stadium or second Adelaide team would be the second expansion team. Would two teams sharing the same stadium be a problem? Last thing CA wants is an AFL/NRL problem where a handful of big teams subsidise the poor teams because of bloated leagues. I have doubts about the financial viability of BBL teams in Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, North Queensland or Geelong. Maybe a team from New Zealand based in Auckland playing out of Eden Park? OK, Ca ruled out NA team. Expanding to Singapore or Hong Kong has been talked about. Both are terrible ideas.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Works in some other sports - Warriors, Breakers, Phoenix etc. But would New Zealand be willing to accept being in an Australian-auspiced competition? I doubt it.
mds1970
Roar Guru
The international games that pay their way are England & India. Last summer & this, with lacklustre international fixtures, has seen the Big Bash grow enormously and become the highlight of the summer. Next year the Big Bash is up against the Ashes; and it will be interesting to see if the increased international attention affects the Big Bash. I suspect it won't - the Big Bash seems to keep building momentum. It's a very family-friendly atmosphere; and thankfully the yobbo element has stayed away (unless you count the streakers at the SCG derby). Crowd behaviour was a big issue at day-night ODIs in seasons past; but that seems to have calmed down in recent years. The yobbos are not missed.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
A team or two out of New Zealand would probably be a better bet in my mind if you wanted to add more teams rather quickly without diluting the overall quality.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Channel 10 have been great for the Big Bash. I certainly hope they keep the rights. Bringing in new teams, I like that idea as long as there's enough players to come into those teams & be competitive. I'd be reluctant if it diluted the standard of the competition.
mds1970
Roar Guru
The Manuka development that was proposed last year would have delivered a facility that would have made Canberra's case for a Big Bash team impossible to ignore. Manuka did host a final a couple of years ago when pitches were being prepared for the World Cup. But the current capacity may not be enough for a Canberra BBL team. As for expanding the league with new teams, are there enough players who would come in and be competitive? There may be some diamonds in the rough in Grade cricket; but would it dilute the standard? if there are enough decent players to expand the league, it's a great idea.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The demand is for the Ashes . India , England and India in one day internationals. Most of the cricket association budgets are 80-90% from England and India touring every four years. Even Australia about 70% of the money is earnt from the England and India tours. Of course Australia would like England India to play heaps of one dayers and T20 internationals but they won't. So they could increase Big Bash ratings if they didn;t play the one day internationals after the test matches. but good luck getting the no 1 tickets England and India to hang around. Cricket Australia is going to continue to stuff everyone into this period. To get a full strength Big Bash competition would rely on playing it in Feb Mar. Then you only have to worry about the Indians wanting a tour in this time which would be every four years at best. Your never going to get England wanting Australia to tour in Feb-Mar. The other issue is the yobbo element, you get more popular and they will get attracted to the sport. With the ultra cheap prices , the only defence against them has been making the marketing so kid oriented the single adult male is avodiing coming but they seem to be increasing. I assume most of them are part timers who watch NRL and AFL so play the games in Feb and Mar that will avoid them The holiday period fun can be preserved with the WBBL getting all the gimmicks and the yobbos will avoid this so WBBL will be even safer and more family friendly than the BBL has ever been.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Nice summation mds, can't argue with the numbers, they are just consistently sensational. I would hope the extension of the season (to include 8 additional games) is a precursor for expanding the number of teams to 10, which they could do quite easily - you'd have to think that will come up in the current TV deal negotiations. Already Geelong, Gold Coast and Canberra are putting up their hands to host a BBL game, and they are all next in line for a spot when the BBL expands. I read in the Canberra times this morning that Canberra Cricket's strategy is to focus on BBL games (and ultimately getting a team) and forgetting about trying to attract international games - it's just too hard and too jealously guarded by the six state capitals. In terms of timing, I think they would want to avoid spilling into the start of the school term, so the answer lies in starting the season earlier in December, which is doable - that leaves all of October and November for Sheffield Shield and international cricket.
Dimethoate
Guest
Increase the number of teams to enlarge the geographical supporter base while not diluting the existing match attendence. Increase the overseas player quota from two to three to decrease player drain from existing clubs. Produce international scheduleing to allow Australian players to play. Play each team once plus one double up derbies to avoid spectator burnout. Keep the length of calender the same while playing more double headers to allow the game to be more accessible to young families while capturing a different television audience demographic. Promote and recognise the official fantasy game in partnership with the broadcasting partner on FREE TO AIR T.V. with leaderboard updates and player profiles. (This would increase active spectating and commercial opportunities). Keep Channel 10 as the broadcast partner of the tournement. Recognise the promotion they have provided the given the event. Keep the commentary team chemistry together. Acknowledge that the game will not get the coverage on the other networks due to their existing commitments(channel 7 and 9) and reach (abc and sbs). Free to Air television is a partner not a broadcaster!!!