The Big Bash League "has enjoyed an almost 20 per cent surge in crowds this season, which should mean all eight teams in the competition break even for the first time," according to John Stensholt of the AUSTRALIAN FINACIAL REVIEW.
The BBL "enters its last week of regular season matches this week," ahead of the weekend’s semifinals and the final at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Jan. 28.
Crowds are up almost 20% compared with the '13-14 season "to about 23,200 per match." Ratings on broadcaster Network 10, meanwhile, "have held to an average of about 925,000 per night across the country, the same figure the network achieved last season." Cricket Australia Exec GM of Cricket
Mike McKenna said that "bringing match start times forward half an hour to 7:10pm had helped increase the crowds, with more families attending." McKenna said that "barring any cancelled matches, all eight teams should finish the season in a positive financial position." McKenna: “If we don’t have any rain then we’ll be in a position where all of them are [profitable]." Despite the success of the competition, which is now in its fourth year, McKenna said that "establishing new teams or playing more matches would not happen" for the foreseeable future (AFR, 1/19).
