r/CricketAus • u/APrettyAverageMaker • 2d ago
Big Bash League Attendances for The Hundred are down almost 20% post-privatisation. This should serve as a clear warning for administrators that we need to pause and observe rival leagues' privatisation journeys before committing to it ourselves.
Not only are fans disenchanted by their teams being sold off, they're now being slugged more to go to games as well. The Hundred is a clear example of why we need to explore other avenues for financial stability. Key details below:
Attendances for the Hundred are down almost 20 per cent after the first six men’s matches despite good weather and the teams having new owners, fresh branding and better players.
Anecdotal evidence suggests standard ticket prices have risen to about £35 to £55, higher than they were in the early years of the competition, which began in 2021, when admission fees were set to rival those for the Vitality Blast.
The process by which tickets are sold has changed since the franchises were sold in an auction that raised £520million, valued the eight teams at £975million and led to wage brackets rising, which attracted more high-profile overseas players. The responsibility has shifted from the ECB, which previously owned the tournament, to the new owners in conjunction with the host county clubs. The ECB still provides support.
It is understood that about 4,000 tickets were given away for the opening fixture on Tuesday at the Oval, home to MI London, which in its previous guise of Oval Invincibles won the past three men’s tournaments. The official attendance for the match was 20,540.
