Salon Prives, Game Drives and Beauty Treatments At the height of the Sun City Million Dollar’s popularity with the world’s best golfers it wasn’t, believe it or not, the prize-money which attracted many of the top-10 golfers to the Pilanesberg, it was the ‘other stuff’ which the resort and the organisers offered which made it so appealing.
I'd just like to say the reports of the death of the BBL are greatly exaggerated!
:-)
It reached dizzying heights 5 years ago, and it certainly has dropped some 40% since then in terms of ratings. But with an average audience of 630,000 across 62 games it is still a significant 'product'. So it will survive for the next 2 years with some minor tweaks, and then when the new Broadcast cycle kicks in it will have some major tweaks (reduced timeframe, less games).
One thing CA will be trying very hard to do as a minor tweak is to get the Test stars playing BBL and not dragging ODI stars like Maxwell out of the BBL for ODI games. Cummins, Starc, Hazy, Smith, Warner have really never played BBL, and I think I can say not a single game between them in the last at last 2 seasons.
I suspect that this will work in SA's favour, as my money is on CA moving (or postponing) those ODI games in mid Jan as it will suit both countries to have their star players available for their respective T20 leagues.
I've had an idea like this for a while, but never quite put the email into gsmith@csa.org.za to get the ball rolling. It's obvious that the supply:demand curve for T20 tournaments is weighted badly, so the only way for a new tournament to gain any traction is to do something different. We will never compete on $$$ terms, and won't be able to demand a permanent window for our schedule as the Big 3 will always dictate how and when we get to have some fun.
This new tournament in Jan 2023 is nothing new, and the press release even says it is "Modelled along the lines of T20 events worldwide, the focus will be on all-action cricketsportainment" 6 franchise teams playing each other twice with the top 3 advancing, 32 games in all. I don't see it working, the whole point of bish bash T20 is to get it over with quickly, here is probably a 3/4 week schedule that just won't find the window to attract players.
During FIFA 2010 some teams chose to base themselves at lodges and resorts outside of the big centres, (France and Denmark went to Knysna, Japan to Fancourt and few to Umhlanga rocks) far from the actual stadiums. Maybe it wasn't the best for performance as the semi-finalists were based in Kimberley, Potch, Centurion and Sandton, but I'm sure they had fun. That world cup was always going to be an "african adventure" and game parks and the big five was a theme that ran through it - focus on doing what you're best at.
It is along the lines of the Million Dollar Golf challenge that I think CSA could offer something different. How about this for an idea?
5 teams - either franchise purchased or the hybrid of local teams with a player draft
Kicks off with a fri evening game at Newlands, double header Sat and a day game Sunday.
Monday+ tuesday single day games in plett/knsyna*
Wed+Thurs single day games somewhere in the bush**
Fri double header in Centurion to close out RR stage, teams 4/5 eliminated
Sat Wanderers - qualifier for teams 2 and 3 on the log
Sun Wanderers - final between qualifier winner and team 1 on log.
The entire tournament could fit into 10 days, which could see you attracting some marquee players. Rain is an issue but you can build a reserve slot into it on the sat am. It's pretty obvious that the revenues for T20 do not come from the gate, but the mix between interesting locations and classic stadiums keeps it interesting. Off field you could put an amazing experience together for both the WAGS and dignitaries as well as spectator tours.
*there is a field at Pezula, but probably too small for a top class cricket game. Plenty of polo venues that could take a drop in pitch in Plett.
**does Leopard Creek Golf Estate have a field? I am sure with all the safari lodges in the kruger area you can find a place to play some good cricket, surrounded by luxury.
I'd just like to say the reports of the death of the BBL are greatly exaggerated!
:-)
It reached dizzying heights 5 years ago, and it certainly has dropped some 40% since then in terms of ratings. But with an average audience of 630,000 across 62 games it is still a significant 'product'. So it will survive for the next 2 years with some minor tweaks, and then when the new Broadcast cycle kicks in it will have some major tweaks (reduced timeframe, less games).
One thing CA will be trying very hard to do as a minor tweak is to get the Test stars playing BBL and not dragging ODI stars like Maxwell out of the BBL for ODI games. Cummins, Starc, Hazy, Smith, Warner have really never played BBL, and I think I can say not a single game between them in the last at last 2 seasons.
I suspect that this will work in SA's favour, as my money is on CA moving (or postponing) those ODI games in mid Jan as it will suit both countries to have their star players available for their respective T20 leagues.
I've had an idea like this for a while, but never quite put the email into gsmith@csa.org.za to get the ball rolling. It's obvious that the supply:demand curve for T20 tournaments is weighted badly, so the only way for a new tournament to gain any traction is to do something different. We will never compete on $$$ terms, and won't be able to demand a permanent window for our schedule as the Big 3 will always dictate how and when we get to have some fun.
This new tournament in Jan 2023 is nothing new, and the press release even says it is "Modelled along the lines of T20 events worldwide, the focus will be on all-action cricketsportainment" 6 franchise teams playing each other twice with the top 3 advancing, 32 games in all. I don't see it working, the whole point of bish bash T20 is to get it over with quickly, here is probably a 3/4 week schedule that just won't find the window to attract players.
During FIFA 2010 some teams chose to base themselves at lodges and resorts outside of the big centres, (France and Denmark went to Knysna, Japan to Fancourt and few to Umhlanga rocks) far from the actual stadiums. Maybe it wasn't the best for performance as the semi-finalists were based in Kimberley, Potch, Centurion and Sandton, but I'm sure they had fun. That world cup was always going to be an "african adventure" and game parks and the big five was a theme that ran through it - focus on doing what you're best at.
It is along the lines of the Million Dollar Golf challenge that I think CSA could offer something different. How about this for an idea?
5 teams - either franchise purchased or the hybrid of local teams with a player draft
Kicks off with a fri evening game at Newlands, double header Sat and a day game Sunday.
Monday+ tuesday single day games in plett/knsyna*
Wed+Thurs single day games somewhere in the bush**
Fri double header in Centurion to close out RR stage, teams 4/5 eliminated
Sat Wanderers - qualifier for teams 2 and 3 on the log
Sun Wanderers - final between qualifier winner and team 1 on log.
The entire tournament could fit into 10 days, which could see you attracting some marquee players. Rain is an issue but you can build a reserve slot into it on the sat am. It's pretty obvious that the revenues for T20 do not come from the gate, but the mix between interesting locations and classic stadiums keeps it interesting. Off field you could put an amazing experience together for both the WAGS and dignitaries as well as spectator tours.
*there is a field at Pezula, but probably too small for a top class cricket game. Plenty of polo venues that could take a drop in pitch in Plett.
**does Leopard Creek Golf Estate have a field? I am sure with all the safari lodges in the kruger area you can find a place to play some good cricket, surrounded by luxury.