Melbourne Renegades CEO Stuart Coventry insists perceptions that this year’s Big Bash League is not travelling as well as previous incarnations of the tournament are wide of the mark.
The BBL is currently in its seventh season, with each team playing ten matches for the first time, compared to eight in previous years.
“At the moment [we’ve got] consistent broadcast, consistent crowds. Our reach is phenomenal,” Coventry told SEN Drive.
“As a product it’s convenient to families, it’s great value for money.
“We continue to find ways to engage in fans and to make Big Bash cricket relevant and innovative.
“It’s a strong product, I don’t think it’s going anywhere and we’re all setting ourselves up for an extended season next year and we’re looking forward to that.”
There has been suggestions of extending the tournament to a full home and away season, while also potentially adding teams from regional centres such as Geelong, Canberra, Townsville and the Gold Coast.
Coventry said there is no doubt an extended season that would not over saturate the marketplace can work, possibly as soon as next year.
“If the window for games is extended out into early February, or even earlier into December it can work,” he said.
“It’s a strong product and there’s games all over Australia at the moment, in different locations.
“I don’t think we’re over saturating just yet, but at some stage in the future we need to have a longer, stronger competition, so why not start next year?”
The Renegades are currently on a ten day break between matches, with their next game not until Monday night against the Adelaide Strikers at Etihad Stadium.
To hear Stuart Coventry's chat with Jack Heverin and Cam Mooney on SEN Drive listen in to the player below: