Big Bash League has nothing to fear from A-League, says Sydney Thunder boss

THERE’S a simple reason Sydney Thunder boss Nick Cummins is not worried about any threat from football — the Big Bash League attracts a television audience 10 times that of the A-League.

And the fact genuine rivalries are brewing in the BBL will only see Twenty20 cricket further strengthen its grip on the Aussie summer sporting market.

The sight of around 80,000 football and cricket fans packing Allianz Stadium and the SCG next Saturday night for the A-League and BBL derbies will be a win for Sydney sport.

But the TV ratings makes it a no-brainer when it comes to deciding which code reigns supreme.

SYDNEY DERBY READY TO BASH BBL


The Big Bash has no reason to feel overshadowed. Pic: Gregg Porteous
“I think the A-League is a well-run league and it’s great for NSW sport with the Wanderers and Sydney FC,’’ Cummins told The Sunday Telegraph.

“But we don’t see them as a threat. They’re on a different scale to us. We get over 1 million viewers a game on TV, and they get 80,000-or-so viewers on pay TV.’’

And as Network Ten enjoys bumper ratings again this summer and SCG and Spotless Stadium are regularly packed out, Sydney Sixers general manager Dominic Redmond says there’s good reason the BBL’s bubble will burst.

THUNDER SHOCK THE STARS


Football wins the Moore Park battle — the cricket wins the ratings war. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“You’re always concerned about what might happen, but we’ve now overcome that four- and five-year itch,’’ Redmond said.

“I think we’re now drawing the traditionalists who were in the initial stages not overly supportive of Twenty20 cricket, but now know it’s an important (format) in keeping interest in the game. Last year 29 per cent of people who came to our games were coming to a formal game for the first time.

“Our merchandise sales across the league in kids replica jerseys are also unbelievable. We do over 40 per cent of our replica jerseys in kids sizes. If you look at the footy codes, their kids replica jerseys are around the mid-20s.

“We’re starting to see that passion, and with passion the stakes only get higher.’’


You fans are a huge reason for the BBL’s rise. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
For the first four seasons of the BBL, glamour boys the Sixers dominated their little brother from the western suburbs.

They belted them in eight straight matches, only for Mike Hussey and Jacques Kallis — two of the greatest players to play the game — inspiring the Thunder to get two wins back on the Sixers before going all the way to win the title last summer.

Rivalry exists between the players, most of whom know each other from within the Cricket NSW system. Results also mean something for supporters.

The BBL is no longer a hit and giggle with some fireworks thrown in. While the BBL does not have The Cove or Red and Black Bloc — Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers’ respective supporter groups — Thunder fans hurled abuse at players after their loss to the Brisbane Heat on December 28, then partied in the stands when Eoin Morgan launched a final-ball six for victory on Wednesday night.

“Win or lose, the passion is palpable,’’ Cummins said. “The fans get upset when we lose, and I can vouch for this first hand.’’

Roughly 40,000 of them will be cheering or crying next Saturday night at the SCG.

Originally published as ‘We don’t see football as a threat’

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/big-bash-league-has-nothing-to-fear-from-aleague-says-sydney-thunder-boss/news-story/489b59576d5003678ce04c48af42f7ec

Get the kents

Love for A-league to be on prime time with a few more big name players. Interesting to see how big it can get. The BBL is sort of like watching reality TV, fun but forgetable. It is doing well but will be interesting to see if it generally has a future in the Australian sporting landscape.

"Last time I checked Fourfourtwo forum soccer fans keep blaming the other teams for attendance numbers" Cummins said.

Well I mean he's right, currently they really don't have anything to fear.

If the A-League is no threat why are they mentioning them? 

Three years tops!

They have the less predictable competition as well

Have nothing to fear as one is a genuine league.

They are lying when they say rivalry is there in big bash. I know for a fact they continually brief creative agencies because the public generally don't follow a team, they rather just watch and forget. If you asked everyone in the stadium who won the comp the year before most wouldn't have a clue.

This would have been true when it first started but not now..look at the detby at etihad the crowd is either decked out in red or green

HAL needs some Don't Blush Baby moments.

-PB

^ it is true because I know for a fact it is. Half those in red will be in green next year.

Big bash is easily digestible theatre. Not my cup of tea but it's done very well but silly comparing them.

Sounds like a tool. Worry about your own thing theres no need to bring another league down. Same goes for when gallop etc do the same. 

Over 44,000 at Etihad tonight, plastic cricket derby beat the Cahill round 2 derby.

The big bash equivalent of football would be...

For 6 weeks we have the global stars come to our shores, Ronaldo goes toe to toe with Bale in the Sydney derby.
Wayne Rooney has starred so far for Perth Glory and Balotelli has created some headlines with his antics at the Victory.
Zlatan has been putting on a clinic at Suncorp and taking the piss.

Of course if we had the global superstars hit our shores for a 6 week competition it would be a massive success. It's silly to compare the two because it's not like for like.

A few journeymen from the West Indies and a couple of 2nd tier guys from the sub continent doesn't = star power. With Gayle not here you could argue this years edition has no real foreign stars.

Why are we even having a debate. Six weeks tournament in holidays on prime time commercial TV vs 27 weeks domestic league buried on SBS VICELAND and pay TV. Just no comparison.

The bbl was getting huge ratings already when it was on fox, it can't be seen as a surprise that it's gone up a few levels since channel 10 came along.

I went to the first ever game at Etihad between renegades and stars, the stadium was well under half full, the crowd looked confused as the Victorian team was split between the 2 teams, I personally hated it, but looking where it is now you can't argue that they have pulled it off now, managing to bring a club feel element to the sport in this country.

And it's grown by being given a prime time FTA slot. Who know what happens with the A-League when every derby and Big Blue on broadcast live around the country to anyone who wants to watch?

Hahaha anyone who thinks bbl is a sport & doesn't have a use.by date, it is the big brother, pop idol of sport, you see in the crowd no real engagement with the sides, they wait for a 6 or a wicket, have loud music to keep.away the boredom, this is unsustainable for a competitions long term viability. 

A league football has genuine interest from the crowd in attendance, we have had those theatre goers at the start and when big names have played their first game eg Del Piero, but we are now left with fans who feel passionately about their teams. 

Does bbl have any chance of converting theatre goers into long fans? I don't think so, it just isn't a sport that you could ever feel deep passion for & the reason this bloke tells us, bbl fans are sad , when a bbl team lose, is to try legitimise his game as a genuine sport & you wouldn't have to say that,  if it was a sport. 

Well it wasn't really given a prime time FTA slot, it earned that slot by already drawing massive tv numbers on fox.

This whole crowd engagement thing is the biggest crock, yes football fans are more passionate but that doesn't automatically mean the bbl is eventually going to crash and burn, the bbl is a fun night out, it will still be a fun night out in 10-20 years times, and don't bring up the decline of 50 over cricket, a format that takes one match over 8 hours to complete.

The BBL is here to stay and anyone who thinks otherwise is in denial. The crowds have become much more parochial as the seasons have gone on. It's become high quality cricket that becomes more and more tactical each year.

In saying that it will have no to little effect on the A-League. It runs over less than two months and I'd be stunned if football fans weren't renewing memberships so that they can attend 4 games of cricket a season.

We need expansion for BBL in GC, Geelong, Canberra, Auckland, Christchurch & Wellington. Make 2 divisions and have pro rel.

were fucked with our tv deal. lots of football fans end up having to watch on bt sports or else not watch at all. since foxsports runs it, i dont see any ads or a-league promotional material except for a commercial on sbs every now and then. on the other hand, big bash and ten are working hand in hand to make the big bash a success. they have a kids program on in the morning and a live game every night thrown in with big bash commercials hundreds of times a day.

Or the game at the MCG last weekend that had 60k+

-PB

Normally they answer questions posed to them...

so, its like the afl

kinda but with the occasional non white person