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Big Bash will not expand next year

By Nathan Ryan
27 January 2012 11:27AM EST

THE BIG Bash will not get bigger next year, despite the unprecedented success of the revamped eight-team, city based format which has attracted huge crowds this summer.

But competition boss Mike McKenna has revealed the Twenty20 league will explore expansion at the conclusion of next season, in a bid to rival the Indian Premier League.

“We’re sticking with what we’ve got next year,” McKenna told SEN.

“It is only the first year and we don’t want to get too carried away with the good results we’ve got, we want to reinforce those and make sure that all the teams are on a sound footing.

“But we will look at it because when you look around the country there are some sizeable facilities that could handle the Big Bash that don’t even get international cricket.

“In terms of servicing the market there are areas of the country that are crying out for it.”

With Saturday's final between Perth and the Sydney Sixers expected to attract a huge crowd and television figures, McKenna revealed the Big Bash League underwent extensive planning and research in hopes of attracting a target of 16,000 fans per match this season.

“We certainly beat that - we’re (at) nearly 18,000,” he said.

“It’s been a great result and the TV ratings have really surprised us and delighted us

“We were expecting somewhere in the region of 165,000 – and we are well ahead of that in the region of 280,000 per match so very pleased with those KPI’s.”

Big Bash stats show 530,000 people come through the gates to date – double what they had their previous best season.

Average crowd attendance is 13 percent higher than last year while the numbers on television have greatly exceeded expectations.

“(Television) is a quantum leap and puts us in the region of the very best NRL games that Fox have covered on average and certainly ahead of what they have had on AFL,” he said.

“Given the growing awareness of the Big Bash those really big numbers (pushing one million viewers on free to air) are not out of the question."

The signing of Melbourne Stars spinner Shane Warne is one factor McKenna has been able to attribute some of the success to.

The former Test legend has brought insight into the game through Fox Sports’ coverage and elevated the T20 to another level.

“Shane’s comments and even the views through the third eye umpires cam has been fantastic,” he said.

 

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