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[IlfordEagle]

So many Counties will lose their identity in this stupid & unnecessary competition, but that's the ECB for you, they don't care about tradition & history.

[smandlej]

It's not so much tradition and history, Eagle - the ECB don't seem to realise that people are very tribal.  Someone who supports team A is unlikely to want to support a team made up of players from teams B, C, D, E and F, plus one from their own team if they're lucky, plus a lot of bought-in foreign players.  Now they're saying they want existing supporters to go along with this - rather than appealing just to a new audience, as they were in the beginning - I'm afraid they'll be unlucky.

Lynda

[nat]

It's not so much tradition and history, Eagle - the ECB don't seem to realise that people are very tribal.  Someone who supports team A is unlikely to want to support a team made up of players from teams B, C, D, E and F, plus one from their own team if they're lucky, plus a lot of bought-in foreign players.  Now they're saying they want existing supporters to go along with this - rather than appealing just to a new audience, as they were in the beginning - I'm afraid they'll be unlucky.

Lynda

Not sure this is completely accurate. In London they will get large crowds from the city-types out for a p*** up. May also get decent crowds in Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham due to cricket heritage. Can only see Cardiff and Southampton struggling.

Whatever, the ECB will spin it as a success.

[IlfordEagle]

At a slight tangent I noticed how poor the crowd in Cardiff was for Afghanistan v Sri Lanka yesterday which suggests apathy in general, would suspect crowds won't be big for T20 Franchise/100 competitions.

[smandlej]

Not that we've ever been to a T20 match, but we've heard the take-up at some of the major grounds isn't great - I know Edgbaston has been mentioned in this regard.  Do the ECB think that this Hundred thing will alter that?

We got the impression, Nat, that the city types who go to matches to drink aren't actually/necessarily supporters, it's just a place for a night out?  As I say, never been to one, but from what the commentators say and reports on this forum, it's what we've been led to believe.

Lynda

[squarelegumpire]

At a slight tangent I noticed how poor the crowd in Cardiff was for Afghanistan v Sri Lanka yesterday which suggests apathy in general, would suspect crowds won't be big for T20 Franchise/100 competitions.

There's been a problem, apparently with sponsors not taking up their allocated seats. Who would have thought that the ECB wouldn't have realised that might happen?

[Slogger]

Mr Square, to be fair to the ECB (which I'm not often) I think the ICC are in charge of the world cup and the sponsorship arrangements.

I must confess that when the tickets came out initially I looked at what was scheduled in London and was put off by the early start times (peak rail travel on weekdays) and ticket prices. I decided that with Essex being at home so much during the tournament that I wouldn't bother with it. I actually feel a bit detached from it all. I've watched snippets on TV but it hasn't really grabbed me, apart from the climax of the Bangladesh win over South Africa on Sunday. There does seem to be a bit of a cock up on the ticketing front, what with the Nottingham problems and then all these empty seats.

On the point about T20 attendances I think I read somewhere that Essex, Sussex and especially Somerset, all get larger T20 attendances than Glamorgan who will be hosting a 100 ball team. I also believe that gates at Southampton aren't as large as Taunton. Of course many counties include T20 in their membership packages, which Essex don't. My colleague who is a Sussex member was most surprised to hear it wasn't included in my life membership at Essex. I guess Chelmsford simply isn't big enough for that.

Lord's and the Oval are both a night out after work venue and I suspect that the 100 ball will probably work there. I'm not too sure about the other 100 venues. I lived on the edge of Leeds for a while and most people there drive to work (or use the bus) and driving to Headingley and parking up after work would be a bit of struggle. Doubtless loads of tickets will be given away, especially to school children. It did cross my mind that I wouldn't want to be moving a young family about in the late evening in central London after a game. Getting into the tube after T20 at Lord's and the Oval on the occasions when I've done it isn't the greatest!

I would have thought day games at weekends would work far better for that audience but probably not for the TV coverage. Chatting about it last week with my Northumberland based school teacher mate we thought this new tournament could be good news in as much as we might get some outground cricket in August. Apart from one T20 game he's going to in late July he's seen the last of Essex this season.

[squarelegumpire]

A lot of good points Mr S., and of course you are right about tickets and the ECB and ICC.

[SirChef26]

It's not so much tradition and history, Eagle - the ECB don't seem to realise that people are very tribal.  Someone who supports team A is unlikely to want to support a team made up of players from teams B, C, D, E and F, plus one from their own team if they're lucky, plus a lot of bought-in foreign players.  Now they're saying they want existing supporters to go along with this - rather than appealing just to a new audience, as they were in the beginning - I'm afraid they'll be unlucky.

Lynda

Not sure this is completely accurate. In London they will get large crowds from the city-types out for a p*** up. May also get decent crowds in Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham due to cricket heritage. Can only see Cardiff and Southampton struggling.

Whatever, the ECB will spin it as a success.

They’ll struggle to get good crowds in Manchester. Many Lancashire fans don’t come from the city itself. They come from towns such as Bolton, Wigan, Preston, Blackpool and the Cheshire area. These people will not go near a Manchester named team. Ditto Yorkshire and Leeds. I don’t think the Bears are that well attended in Birmingham and that’s not going to change.

[nat]

It's not so much tradition and history, Eagle - the ECB don't seem to realise that people are very tribal.  Someone who supports team A is unlikely to want to support a team made up of players from teams B, C, D, E and F, plus one from their own team if they're lucky, plus a lot of bought-in foreign players.  Now they're saying they want existing supporters to go along with this - rather than appealing just to a new audience, as they were in the beginning - I'm afraid they'll be unlucky.

Lynda

Not sure this is completely accurate. In London they will get large crowds from the city-types out for a p*** up. May also get decent crowds in Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham due to cricket heritage. Can only see Cardiff and Southampton struggling.

Whatever, the ECB will spin it as a success.

They’ll struggle to get good crowds in Manchester. Many Lancashire fans don’t come from the city itself. They come from towns such as Bolton, Wigan, Preston, Blackpool and the Cheshire area. These people will not go near a Manchester named team. Ditto Yorkshire and Leeds. I don’t think the Bears are that well attended in Birmingham and that’s not going to change.

You're making the mistake of thinking this circus is designed for existing (proper) cricket fans. It's not. It's designed for 20-20/football goers (ignore the marketing hype of attracting families). Man Utd/Man City have a combined home attendance of >100,000, Leeds Utd - > 30,000, Birmingham/Villa/Wolves/WBA - >100,000. Plenty of scope to attract the p*** heads.

[Slogger]

Nat you may well be right but it's being played in August when football has started up again!

[nat]

Nat you may well be right but it's being played in August when football has started up again!

The words 'ECB' and 'muddled thinking' were made for each other.

[Slogger]

I read on the way home last night, in the London Evening Standard, that a number of big name coaches are being lined up for these franchises. Apparently there is a £200k allocation to each franchise for coaching staff. A lot of overseas big names were being touted - Warne and Vettori, for example. I don't see how that is going to help UK cricket personally. I'd rather the money was spent on UK based people. (Well actually I'd rather the money was spent on coaches for youth cricket but that's another story).

There has also, reportedly, been a dispute about whether the Oval franchise should have "London" in its name (the ECB's preference) or "Oval" (Surrey and Kent's preference - those counties are managing the Oval franchise). Reportedly the counties' view has prevailed.

Has anyone heard anymore as to whether a ladies team will based at Chelmsford?

[LeedsExile]

The Surrey commentators said the other day that the Surrey franchise was to be called "Surrey Greats". They were underwhelmed at the news.

[nat]

The Surrey commentators said the other day that the Surrey franchise was to be called "Surrey Greats". They were underwhelmed at the news.

That'll encourage the Kent supporters to attend.