***Official*** Big Bash League

[Prince EWS]

I hope our selectors don't think this way.

The issue with Haddin wasn't technical or ability-based; it was form and head-space based. If he can get into a bit of form here then I do that that should count for something; I don't think anyone's really calling his quality into question.

As for Christian.. well yeah, I like him, but performing here shouldn't count for that much, especially when his Shield performances have historically been so different from his limited overs ones. He should only play if the selectors are paranoid about the fifth bowling option and playing well in T20 cricket really shouldn't be a factor for him.

 

[Spikey]

you mean kinda awesome

 

[Redbacks]

Pollard out of the tournement!

 

[Crazy Sam]

I get the feeling the Heat's crowds are going to be dreadful. People in Brisbane watching that game tonight are going to consider them to be a bunch of listless no names. The 'stronger' players in the side such as McCullum and Christian are hardly going to be drawcards. Hayden is pretty much it - they desperately need another big current name or someone like Symonds (get him out of Big Brother ffs) who people know will be entertaining.

 

[Spikey]

Brisbane have hit gold though; first home game is against Warne and the last home game is against Gayle +maybe Warner. Hobart game might be a stinker

 

[Redbacks]

Pollard out of the tournement!

Grade 2 hamstring tear. **** **** ****!

 

[Spikey]

Welcome to 2pm today, moron

 

[NUFAN]

Yeah Warne vs. Hayden for Brisbane fans will be epic.

Can someone tell me how the tickets prices are this season? I know they used to be very cheap previously and you could do good deals for all the home games - Have the prices gone up with this new Big Bash concept?

 

[Redbacks]

Welcome to 2pm today, moron

Strikers are stuffed

 

[Spikey]

Yeah Warne vs. Hayden for Brisbane fans will be epic.

Can someone tell me how the tickets prices are this season? I know they used to be very cheap previously and you could do good deals for all the home games - Have the prices gone up with this new Big Bash concept?

was 20 odd for an adult, 15 odd student. assume it'll be around the same at the gabba. might a bit higher for the other smaller grounds, and a bit lower at the MCG and homebush

 

[Noble One]

I get the feeling the Heat's crowds are going to be dreadful. People in Brisbane watching that game tonight are going to consider them to be a bunch of listless no names. The 'stronger' players in the side such as McCullum and Christian are hardly going to be drawcards. Hayden is pretty much it - they desperately need another big current name or someone like Symonds (get him out of Big Brother ffs) who people know will be entertaining.

This is probably the first major issue that the BBL needs to face. If crowd numbers are reliant upon players like Warne, Hayden, Hogg and MacGill then this format will never survive.

Victoria attracted 37k to the MCG last year without any major big-name stars (Bravo is not a big-name IMO). Good cricket will attract good crowds in the long-term. I can understand bringing in the old-names to get this format off the ground, but the best thing that the Heat can do to win fans is to play good cricket and sustain that over many seasons.

 

[Prince EWS]

Does the competition really need big crowds to survive anyway? Modern professional sporting finance is becoming increasingly about flogging off the rights to cover the events in massive TV deals. As long as the crowds are big enough to maintain some sort of atmosphere for the home viewer (and even tonight was fine) then they'll be okay IMO.

 

[NUFAN]

was 20 odd for an adult, 15 odd student. assume it'll be around the same at the gabba. might a bit higher for the other smaller grounds, and a bit lower at the MCG and homebush

Cool thanks. I guess you can't complain too much paying about $20 for 3 hours of action.

I'm tipping tomorrow's crowd to be fantastic, Stars vs Thunder should be huge, 50K I'm thinking.

 

[Noble One]

Does the competition really need big crowds to survive anyway? Modern professional sporting finance is becoming increasingly about flogging off the rights to cover the events in massive TV deals. As long as the crowds are big enough to maintain some sort of atmosphere for the home viewer (and even tonight was fine) then they'll be okay IMO.

You are probably on the ball with this (for about the 10th time tonight you have called my bluff). What are the specifics behind the TV deal for the first BBL?

Do you not agree that the casual viewer on TV prefers to watch a good contest rather than gimmick in the long run? I might be giving the casual fan too much credit here.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Does the competition really need big crowds to survive anyway? Modern professional sporting finance is becoming increasingly about flogging off the rights to cover the events in massive TV deals. As long as the crowds are big enough to maintain some sort of atmosphere for the home viewer (and even tonight was fine) then they'll be okay IMO.

The states do.

CV will be very happy to only lose $1m this year on the BBL.

 

[Spikey]

Given how long ago the current media rights deal got done, and how it doesn't go back up for sale for another two years, that doesn't surprise me.

 

[Spark]

$20 bucks isn't bad tbh. Could do a hell of a lot worse.

 

[Noble One]

I just paid $20 for the game at the MCG. Good value.

Ryobi Cup games are $10 as a comparison. I consider that $10 well spent, however I would prefer to enjoy the experience with more than 500 people.

 

[Cabinet96]

Brendon McCullum had to retire hurt for treatment after getting hit on the nose by a short ball from Brett Lee, Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat, Big Bash League, SCG, December 16, 2011

OUCH!

 

[Howe_zat]

If Haddin wasn't an international player with years of experience, he would struggle for a gig in this format. Very bad Twenty20 cricketer.

Score