Just say no

[Slogger]

Kent are in the same boat as Essex & should really have the courage to just say 'No': John Faragher pointed out that the franchise system will mean large parts of the country being deprived of live cricket (watching on TV isn't usually quite the same), he is quite right & several Counties may well go to the wall eventually especially after the annual 'bribe' sorry payment from the ECB dries up (& I bet it will).
The cost of tickets will be very interesting to see as well as which competition suffers/has to make way for it - either the Royal London Cup will be axed or the SCC reduced again.

I think I read that the 50 over competition would be played at the same time as this with minor counties included (presumably as a way of securing their votes for franchise cricket). Maybe a weakened Essex  v Suffolk at Castle Park or Clacton wouldn't be so bad?

[nat]

Kent are in the same boat as Essex & should really have the courage to just say 'No': John Faragher pointed out that the franchise system will mean large parts of the country being deprived of live cricket (watching on TV isn't usually quite the same), he is quite right & several Counties may well go to the wall eventually especially after the annual 'bribe' sorry payment from the ECB dries up (& I bet it will).
The cost of tickets will be very interesting to see as well as which competition suffers/has to make way for it - either the Royal London Cup will be axed or the SCC reduced again.

I think I read that the 50 over competition would be played at the same time as this with minor counties included (presumably as a way of securing their votes for franchise cricket). Maybe a weakened Essex  v Suffolk at Castle Park or Clacton wouldn't be so bad?

Who would watch that...apart from two men and a dog?

[Valentines Park]

Maybe a weakened Essex  v Suffolk

A chance for Jaik to fill his boots.

[huttoneagle]

This figure of £1.3M per county for the first 4 years, is it guaranteed, or is it a figure that the "marketing men" think they generate for the counties?

If it is guaranteed, then the commercial negociations must be a lot further advanced than we thought!!!

[nat]

This figure of £1.3M per county for the first 4 years, is it guaranteed, or is it a figure that the "marketing men" think they generate for the counties?

If it is guaranteed, then the commercial negociations must be a lot further advanced than we thought!!!

The ECB have 'guaranteed' this figure, even if it has to come out of their large reserves. They expect the television/marketing deals to more than cover it.

[squarelegumpire]

This figure of £1.3M per county for the first 4 years, is it guaranteed, or is it a figure that the "marketing men" think they generate for the counties?

If it is guaranteed, then the commercial negociations must be a lot further advanced than we thought!!!

The ECB have 'guaranteed' this figure, even if it has to come out of their large reserves. They expect the television/marketing deals to more than cover it.

they might get that sort of money from Sky, but is putting it there going to reach the people they want to attract ...... inner 7 outer city children?

[Slogger]

I get the logic of playing the new competition in the school holidays but in reality you're trying to attract young people who's prime sports interest is probably football. Their season starts quite early in August, about a fortnight into the school holidays, with games played all over the weekend and midweek. Fixture scheduling should take this into account, I think.

[IlfordEagle]

The FL season usually starts the first Sat in Aug with midweeks beginning immediately, Prem 1st/2nd week in Aug with all senior non leagues also around that time so plenty of alternatives to cricket. It will be interesting to see attendances this year & the next 2 with the new T20 dates over the School holidays (also when it will be moved to from 2020 - probably early April/late Sept by the ECB so it will fail!!)

[mawallace]

(also when it will be moved to from 2020 - probably early April/late Sept by the ECB so it will fail!!)

The Nat West Blast (or what ever it is called in 2020) will run before the new format matches - so the draft timetable has it late May to Mid July!

[vim]

If the Minor Counties think that people are not going to bother watching a down graded 50 over 1st class County competition and watch Minor Counties Cricke,t rather than watch the new competition or nothing at all, then they are deluded.

Some years ago, there was an idea to have a 3rd and a possible 4th division of the County Championship made up of the Minor Counties. Ralph Dellor, the broadcaster writing in his piece in the old Sunday league programme. Stated that speaking with the authority of someone who played Minor County Cricket and reported on it, that there was almost zero interest in their competitions.