Cricket ACT CEO Cameron French Says Canberra BBL Team Financially Viable

The Big Bash League "ratings bonanza" makes Cricket ACT CEO Cameron French confident a Canberra team "would be able to attract the sponsorship needed" to make it financially viable, according to David Polkinghorne of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. He added that the "short-form-friendly" Manuka Oval would "attract players to be part of any BBL expansion team." It is expected the BBL fixture will be expanded next summer, "opening the way for a game -- potentially involving the Sydney Thunder -- to be played at Manuka Oval." Then the number of teams in the league "might grow" as early as the '18-19 season, with Canberra one of several options Cricket Australia will consider. While the bid criteria were unknown, "French felt they would be able to tick all the boxes." He pointed to the "massive" TV audience the BBL had attracted as the "perfect weapon in getting much-needed sponsorship." A Canberra bid would need to raise the annual costs of about A$6M ($4.34M) required to run a Big Bash franchise (SMH, 1/1).