BBL BBL 08

[BobbyMorri]

They just need more doubleheaders and day matches, especially on the weekends. Even have matches crossing over. For me, the BBL needs to be like an NBA fixture or NHL fixture. play 3-4 times a week. That way, you can cash in on the late December/early Jan period to the max and still finish around now.

Also, games always need to start at 7. any later and you are killing your main audience.

 

[010203]

They just need more doubleheaders and day matches, especially on the weekends. Even have matches crossing over. For me, the BBL needs to be like an NBA fixture or NHL fixture. play 3-4 times a week. That way, you can cash in on the late December/early Jan period to the max and still finish around now.

Also, games always need to start at 7. any later and you are killing your main audience.

The last two home games for the Brisbane Heat start at 7:40 local time which is an hour too late frankly.

 

[BobbyMorri]

The last two home games for the Brisbane Heat start at 7:40 local time which is an hour too late frankly.

The Launceston game on Thursday starts at the same time. No one is going to travel from either the NW coast or Hobart on a work night for that.

Plus the fact that kids won't be getting home in Launceston by 11 on a school night and you could have a recipe for the lowest attendance for a BBl match ever. You have cut off a large number of people who could attend the match. You host that match on an afternoon on the weekend and you be looking at 10K.

So, I find it a bit rich of the TV companies to complain about declining interest.

We had a crowd of 11K for a 4pm game midweek today, which is damn good considering that. I reckon that will be higher than next Thursdays game starting at 7:40.

 

[eddiesmith]

They just need more doubleheaders and day matches, especially on the weekends. Even have matches crossing over. For me, the BBL needs to be like an NBA fixture or NHL fixture. play 3-4 times a week. That way, you can cash in on the late December/early Jan period to the max and still finish around now.

Also, games always need to start at 7. any later and you are killing your main audience.

Friday and Saturday night games need to start at 7:40, they were paying Saturday nights at 6:30, too early

 

[Pacman Carney]

^that has not been true once:

#BBL8 - 2018-19: Dec 19 - Feb 17
#BBL7 - 2017-18: Dec 19 - Feb 4
#BBL6 - 2016-17: Dec 20 - Jan 28
#BBL5 - 2015-16: Dec 17 - Jan 24
#BBL4 - 2014-15: Dec 18 - Jan 28
#BBL3 - 2013-14: Dec 20 - Feb 7 (too many days with no games, and only 4 double-headers)
#BBL2 - 2012-13: Dec 7 - Jan 19
#BBL1 - 2011-12: Dec 16 - Jan 28

Great stuff thanks. So 13 days longer, with 16 more games.
More double headers will fix that.
Issue is quality, far too many poor players, (and poor games) hence the drop off in interest
Fix the quality, fixes the competition.
Maybe they might even let Chris Gayle back!

 

[Pacman Carney]

Something that needs to be remembered here is that the Big Bash kind of needed to expand in order to validate the initial investment CA put into it. There was this rhetoric that the BBL has always been a money making machine but it in fact lost $33 million in its first 5 years under the new franchise model. Now a lot of that was start-up costs however the expanded BBL has allowed the TV rights to go from approx. $20 million a season to $60-$70 million a season (we don't know exactly as the rights are one big package with international cricket). They've got their big pay day.

However they now face the real issue that the next TV rights deal will be less than the current one and as we know a non-profit, tax-exempt organisation's biggest fear is making slightly less money. Playing less games will certainly see less money so you can rule that out as an option.

Bang on Corbie
Ten last paid 20 million
Now 70 mill per season
Broadcasters are now saying put some of that 70 million back into the salary cap.
Kevin Roberts waffling on about it having to come from somewhere.
Shield, JLT, Etc.

 

[jackess]

Could we see Australians playing in overseas T20 leagues instead of the Big Bash?

 

[jackster83]

Could we see Australians playing in overseas T20 leagues instead of the Big Bash?

We already have, at least until they got injured.

 

[jackess]

We already have, at least until they got injured.

Obviously they're a special case.

Should've written 'choosing to play in an overseas league'

 

[happy_eagle]

Obviously they're a special case.

Should've written 'choosing to play in an overseas league'

Mitchell Johnson chose the Dubai T20 league (which didn't end up going ahead) over BBL because of the Schedule (and pay I'm sure)
Also Lamichhane left the BBL half way through to play in the BPL.

 

[brucetiki]

^that has not been true once:

#BBL8 - 2018-19: Dec 19 - Feb 17
#BBL7 - 2017-18: Dec 19 - Feb 4
#BBL6 - 2016-17: Dec 20 - Jan 28
#BBL5 - 2015-16: Dec 17 - Jan 24
#BBL4 - 2014-15: Dec 18 - Jan 28
#BBL3 - 2013-14: Dec 20 - Feb 7 (too many days with no games, and only 4 double-headers)
#BBL2 - 2012-13: Dec 7 - Jan 19
#BBL1 - 2011-12: Dec 16 - Jan 28

BBL04 got drawn out that far so 10 could have a double header with the BBL Final going straight into the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

 

[Lynnsanity]

For what it's worth, i like how each team plays each other twice purely from an integrity standpoint.

I agreed initially with this but the integrity of the comp is out the window anyway when certain teams are torn apart through international duties, or when you have international players leave mid season for another T20 competition.

 

[brucetiki]

Who knows, something to do with the condition of the outfield. Both teams are out of the race for finals so they could've played it on another ground up there and literally no one would care. Will be interesting to see the crowd for it considering it moved very last minute and it's likely to be at a crap time and everyone will be over it considering it's a dead rubber.

Traegar Park is in a state of disrepair at the moment. The WBBL matches a few weeks ago got moved to a local park in Alice Springs, and nothing's been played at the ground for months.

Looks like it's going to become a bit of a political shitstorm too, and given nothing's been played at the ground in months, you'd have to throw into doubt whether Melbourne could play their AFL match there too.

While the issues with Traegar Park are out of the BBL's/CA's control, it does sum up the season well.

 

[Lynnsanity]

You couldn’t really ask for a closer tournament this year in the bbl

Every team could still play finals

Shame that hasn’t converted into popularity

What comp have you been watching? Can count the amount of close games on one hand. Strikers Heat and Scorchers season were all but over 10-11 games into their 14 game season. We are 3 rounds away form the completion of the regular season and besides the Stars and Thunder battling for 4th, the finals teams are already decided. If the tournament was as close as you think, no one would be whinging it’s gone too long. The quality of games has dipped big time compared to years gone by and the length of the comp is just highlighting that fact.

CA need to have a hard think over the off season in how they are going to resuscitate this because the tournament won’t be shortened and the amount of teams won’t be reduced because of the TV rights. Adding an extra international slot won’t do bugger all if they can’t attract decent overseas talent.

They need to find the money somewhere and raise the salary cap to make the team lists more attractive for starters. They need to have more double headers over the weekend so that the comp doesn’t drag out for 6-7 weeks. They could also start making the time slots a bit more fan friendly too.

And last but not least, make it mandatory for every batsman in the comp to practice in the nets against spin for 2-3 hours a day.

 

[Belnakor]

Bang on Corbie
Ten last paid 20 million
Now 70 mill per season
Broadcasters are now saying put some of that 70 million back into the salary cap.
Kevin Roberts waffling on about it having to come from somewhere.
Shield, JLT, Etc.

if you go through linkedin you would be absolutely amazed how many people work for CA and how many are in "executive" positions.

 

[Cleavy]

CA need to have a hard think over the off season in how they are going to resuscitate this because the tournament won’t be shortened and the amount of teams won’t be reduced because of the TV rights. Adding an extra international slot won’t do bugger all if they can’t attract decent overseas talent.

They need to find the money somewhere and raise the salary cap to make the team lists more attractive for starters. They need to have more double headers over the weekend so that the comp doesn’t drag out for 6-7 weeks. They could also start making the time slots a bit more fan friendly too.

And last but not least, make it mandatory for every batsman in the comp to practice in the nets against spin for 2-3 hours a day.

next season we won't have Tests extending into late Jan/early Feb like we do now, so they should be able to schedule double headers better as a result.

 

[SportsCentre]

It's suffering from most things that are essentially tournament based.
The length and relevance. The ODI World Cup gets criticised if it ventures beyond 4 weeks.

My interest in the BBL has dropped off significantly in the last 2-3 years, once upon a time I went to a few games a season to see the likes of Murali, Kallis etc who may have been in their twilight, but was able to see them play outside of their once a 2-3 year touring cycle.

A few have commented their interest was more with individuals than the teams. I'm in the same boat I think. I would have loved to have seen a CA Legends team participate. Gilly, Lee, Ponting etc taking on the next gen so to speak.

The concept is incredibly drawn out this season. It's essentially instant cricket, but has been dragged out into a period of time where various football codes begin taking the spotlight. It probably required a lot more double headers, multiple games on one day, maybe even the final held on Australia Day eve?

 

[Balls In]

Cricket Australia couldn't organise a **** in a brothel. This has been the worst 12 months of cricket administrative disfunction in 50 years. Competely and utterly lost their way and then on top of everything they thought now was a good time to take a big stinking turd on their base with that tv deal.

 

[Cleavy]

they really need to finish by end of Jan, not mid-Feb. that's very clear to us.

 

[gtrxuone]

What do Fox+7 want from the BBL.
1.Doubleing of the salary cap to 3.5 million.
2.From 2 to 4 international imports for each side.
3.Not sure there keen on 13 games over a 7 week period.Unclear how many games they want over what timeline.
Lynn is not the only player talking about burnout.Look at the Heat,Scorchers,Strikers.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

All of you that do so, along with the players and media personalities, should be smacked over the head with a bat for complaining about the length of the comp. Mid December to mid February is fine. If I was a God, I'd use my powers to deny you from watching your favourite competition for a period of time.

What is the extended length of the tournament stopping you from doing? Maybe intruding in on following your footy teams' twitter feed? Were you really that torn over having to choose between watching the bbl or day 3 of the Aus Open? Does it stop you from going to bingo, or doing your nails?

The bbl is lightweight, consumable cricket/tv. Dare I say if any of you are getting bored with it, then you probably weren't that into it in the first place?

The good thing about it being introduced to fta tv, was that it took up a lot of dead air and didn't require commitment to follow it. You can take it or leave it. C7 are barely showing it, so I don't know how those without it can complain about some sort of fatigue? Those that do have Foxtel and are complaining about it, you're probably not as bright as you think you are.

When it was on 10, it was reliable tv. It didn't matter what you did, you knew it was going to be on that night and it was something you could look forward to. Unlike other sports, where team form certain cities/market needed to be played to satisfy the biggest audience, it doesn't matter with the bbl. People from can be satisfied from watching teams that aren't from their city just as much as a game featuring their city. If you missed on games because you were actually doing something else, then it didn't matter because it was always there for you when you're not doing anything.

Aside form Gayle (Who was already here, and was treated unfairly down here) the complaining of the lack of big names is complete BS. None of you are paying closer attention to the BPL because de Villiers is there.

Most of you, media and players, should stfu.

 

[happy_eagle]

Aside form Gayle (Who was already here, and was treated unfairly down here) the complaining of the lack of big names is complete BS.

Its the main reason that attendance is down though I reckon.
A couple of years ago, Kevin Pietersen and Chris Gayle single handily drew 80k to the MCG. The talent on display right now is poor, so people aren't as enthusiastic to show up.

Agree with your points regarding the Broadcast. As much as I enjoy ad-free coverage on Fox, I fear we are making the same mistake that England made in putting cricket behind a paywall.

 

[Wedge McManus]

What comp have you been watching? Can count the amount of close games on one hand. Strikers Heat and Scorchers season were all but over 10-11 games into their 14 game season. We are 3 rounds away form the completion of the regular season and besides the Stars and Thunder battling for 4th, the finals teams are already decided. If the tournament was as close as you think, no one would be whinging it’s gone too long. The quality of games has dipped big time compared to years gone by and the length of the comp is just highlighting that fact.

CA need to have a hard think over the off season in how they are going to resuscitate this because the tournament won’t be shortened and the amount of teams won’t be reduced because of the TV rights. Adding an extra international slot won’t do bugger all if they can’t attract decent overseas talent.

They need to find the money somewhere and raise the salary cap to make the team lists more attractive for starters. They need to have more double headers over the weekend so that the comp doesn’t drag out for 6-7 weeks. They could also start making the time slots a bit more fan friendly too.

And last but not least, make it mandatory for every batsman in the comp to practice in the nets against spin for 2-3 hours a day.

When Callum Ferguson is asked if his bowlers have discussed taking the pace off as a group due to the slow low pitch on offer mid game and just says something amounting to meh suggests noone is really training the house down or taking this seriously apart from the hurricanes.. the teams look like they rock up and expect a bit of fun. Commitment looks piss weak this season

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Its the main reason that attendance is down though I reckon.
A couple of years ago, Kevin Pietersen and Chris Gayle single handily drew 80k to the MCG. The talent on display right now is poor, so people aren't as enthusiastic to show up.

Agree with your points regarding the Broadcast. As much as I enjoy ad-free coverage on Fox, I fear we are making the same mistake that England made in putting cricket behind a paywall.

Alright. Maybe big names aren't as big a deal for me? I see them as a bonus, as opposed to being a necessity.

 

[Wedge McManus]

Alright. Maybe big names aren't as big a deal for me? I see them as a bonus, as opposed to being a necessity.

This is Australia FFS we used to produce so much cricket talent that only Australia A used to challenge us. Never mind having to import blokes. Times have changed so fast...it's all abit rough to take in