BBL Big Bash League Expansion Thread

[Hellgood]

Have to say I like the idea of working a way of helping grow the game in relatively close associate countries like PNG and Hong Kong, but given the franchised nature of the BBL having international representative teams isn't the best way to go about it.

Thinking very long term an appetite for a rugby union southern hemisphere type competition may evolve, but I don't think that's anywhere near feasible at this stage.

 

[Redline]

BBL was smashing the A-League and growing faster when both were foxtel exclusives.
FTA, while a massive bonus, isnt the be all and end all.

I can't agree FTA has been the major factor in the growth of the BBL in my opinion

As a counter argument I still think any expansion is going to be limited due to TV ratings. Channel Ten like the BBL as it all happens around the non ratings period. It rates well but if the competition went on into February I don't think they will want to give the other stations a head start with new shows.

 

[CURVE]

The only thing that has been missing from BBL05 has been a team to support. Bring in a team from Canberra and the BBL would be close to perfect.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Cricket is the closest thing we have to a national sport.

what do you mean 'closest'? It is genuinely our national sport

The statistics say otherwise. AFL and rugby league trounce it professionally, soccer trounces it at the junior/amatuer levels.

 

[The_Reaper]

The statistics say otherwise. AFL and rugby league trounce it professionally, soccer trounces it at the junior/amatuer levels.

AFL and Rugby League are only big in their respective halves of the country.

Soccer by no means is the national sport. The national sport would actually get on FTA.

Cricket has always been big and a major part of Australia's national consciousness.

BBL has made it a lot more accessible and made use of that in a way that Test cricket was no longer doing.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

AFL and Rugby League are only big in their respective halves of the country.

Yet despite their geographic gaps they are still each bigger than cricket.

AFL is the national sport by sheer numbers.

It's cheating to say cricket is the national sport because its lower audience is more spread out.

 

[Zarrix]

One concern i have with expansion is the lack of bowling depth. Already lots of cannon fodder around with 8 teams, what will it be like with 10?

 

[Carbine Chaos]

One concern i have with expansion is the lack of bowling depth. Already lots of cannon fodder around with 8 teams, what will it be like with 10?

It'll help if we can uncover more players like West for the Strikers, he was very impressive on debut.

 

[The_Reaper]

Yet despite their geographic gaps they are still each bigger than cricket.

AFL is the national sport by sheer numbers.

It's cheating to say cricket is the national sport because its lower audience is more spread out.

AFL can't be the national sport because NSW and QLD don't give a ****.

 

[Hellgood]

Nah that's a bullshit line that gets trotted out a lot, particularly for Sydney. There's absolutely no question that League is the main game up there, but football is second and gets a decent amount of attention. How can you argue against the kind of crowds and support the Swans get? It might just be a perception, but I think the Giants are growing into an established club up there very nicely as well. Tend to browse through the Sydney and national papers (might as well be the same thing...) online a bit and AFL is given a decent platform for coverage.

Queensland I know less about, but it's clear that when the Lions have something inspiring to produce on the field Brisbane gets right behind them (ie. the golden era, 2009 etc.). Gold Coast have also had their ups and downs, but are doing more than acceptably in comparison with the other codes.

 

[Father Jack]

Cricket is the only sport where you can talk about anywhere in the country and have a genuine conversation about, as opposed to the dick measuring contest you inevitably get into if you mention the wrong football code on the wrong side of the border

 

[Bradesmaen]

Nah that's a bullshit line that gets trotted out a lot, particularly for Sydney. There's absolutely no question that League is the main game up there, but football is second and gets a decent amount of attention. How can you argue against the kind of crowds and support the Swans get? It might just be a perception, but I think the Giants are growing into an established club up there very nicely as well. Tend to browse through the Sydney and national papers (might as well be the same thing...) online a bit and AFL is given a decent platform for coverage.

Queensland I know less about, but it's clear that when the Lions have something inspiring to produce on the field Brisbane gets right behind them (ie. the golden era, 2009 etc.). Gold Coast have also had their ups and downs, but are doing more than acceptably in comparison with the other codes.

And what happens when the Swans and Lions do shit? Crowds desert them.. faster than crowds in the other cities will.. They don't have a high core fan base that will always attend which is what the traditional cities have.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Nah that's a bullshit line that gets trotted out a lot, particularly for Sydney. There's absolutely no question that League is the main game up there, but football is second and gets a decent amount of attention. How can you argue against the kind of crowds and support the Swans get? It might just be a perception, but I think the Giants are growing into an established club up there very nicely as well. Tend to browse through the Sydney and national papers (might as well be the same thing...) online a bit and AFL is given a decent platform for coverage.

Queensland I know less about, but it's clear that when the Lions have something inspiring to produce on the field Brisbane gets right behind them (ie. the golden era, 2009 etc.). Gold Coast have also had their ups and downs, but are doing more than acceptably in comparison with the other codes.

There wouldn't be 4 AFL teams in NSW and QLD if they "don't give a ****". As you say the Swans crowds are nothing to baulk at, particularly when they average better than the Sydney NRL clubs (the NRL would kill for that to be the case with the Storm in Melbourne).

Cricket is the only sport where you can talk about anywhere in the country and have a genuine conversation about, as opposed to the dick measuring contest you inevitably get into if you mention the wrong football code on the wrong side of the border

Dick measuring or not, the average Australian does talk more about AFL or rugby league.

AFL is the national sport or we don't have a national sport.

 

[Father Jack]

There wouldn't be 4 AFL teams in NSW and QLD if they "don't give a ****". As you say the Swans crowds are nothing to baulk at, particularly when they average better than the Sydney NRL clubs (the NRL would kill for that to be the case with the Storm in Melbourne).



Dick measuring or not, the average Australian does talk more about AFL or rugby league.

AFL is the national sport or we don't have a national sport.

How much time have you spent in NSW and Queensland, just out of interest?

 

[JackOutback]

Cricket is the only game that is popular across all states, but it's popularity is well below that of AFL in all states bar NSW and Queensland (where it still has some interest). The Big Bash might go some way to making cricket the truly national sport again, but I think it's well behind AFL at the moment (League is only truly popular in NSW and Queensland, and is well off the pace).

 

[nobbyiscool]

I can't believe people have spent so much time arguing/dick measuring over our "national sport" when, by any measure you choose to use, we don't really have one. Maybe cricket might win if you talk about a percentage of sports media coverage in-season... but I think that's probably it.

 

[Colonial]

I can't agree FTA has been the major factor in the growth of the BBL in my opinion

As a counter argument I still think any expansion is going to be limited due to TV ratings. Channel Ten like the BBL as it all happens around the non ratings period. It rates well but if the competition went on into February I don't think they will want to give the other stations a head start with new shows.

Its helped it true
But some people are saying its the only reason its ahead against the A-League, which is wrong
Im POSITIVE of this.

 

[FullBack30]

 

[The_Reaper]

**** off Freo.

 

[Van_Dyke]

**** off Freo.

Yeah, nah.





Seriously doubt it'd happen, especially seeing they apparently plan to play at Freo Oval. But I'd be in.

 

[eth-dog]

We don't have the talent base to expand yet. I'd sooner have an ACT side in the shield.

 

[JackOutback]

Freo; always destined to be the little brother.

 

[jo172]

The depth of talent isn't there to expand (as discussed). Only way it would be watchable is to increase the number of internationals to 4 a side and make it IPL lite.

 

[Colonial]

Canberra, Geelong next then can start with the minor cities getting 2nd teams.
Maybe even Nth Qld and Newcastle. But both need grounds.

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[SterlingArcher]

Canberra, Geelong next then can start with the minor cities getting 2nd teams.
Maybe even Nth Qld and Newcastle. But both need grounds.

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Would a Nth Qld team really work that well? It'd have to be based in Townsville for the weather (surely Cairns would be too wet?) and not sure the demand is there for a sports team other than league.