Whateley: Merger proves failure of Melbourne's worst sports admin decision

The all-Melbourne Final of the summer of 2018/19 - this was the pinnacle of crosstown rivalry in the BBL.

At its inception Melburnians had been pushed away from the Bushrangers who had dominated the state-based T20 tournament and asked to choose between Green and Red. Between the MCG and Docklands. Between Shane Warne and Aaron Finch.

It was a high-risk strategy but by BBL|5 the Stars and Renegades drew 80,883 to the MCG Derby in January - a staggering turnout for domestic cricket.

The four highest attendances in the competition’s history have been at MCG Derbies.

Earlier this year 68,124 were in attendance. Across the two games at the 'G and Marvel they drew more than 110,000 fans.

That Docklands Final at the climax of Big Bash season 8 proved a seminal moment… and not just for the Renegades' miraculous victory under Andrew McDonald and Finch.

In the aftermath Cricket Victoria dissolved the independent boards that had run the rival clubs with a mixture of commercial acumen, marketing panache and cricket smarts.

CV brought the Stars and Renegades in-house and dismissed a wealth of specialised knowledge.

In my time covering sport it is arguably the worst decision by a sports administration made in this town.

And it failed.

The performance of the two teams on and off the field has been near-on embarrassing ever since.

Now the two teams are being abolished.

For 15 years fanbases have been nurtured and rivalry cultivated, and now essentially we are being told it was all worthless… or at least dispensable and replaceable.

The identity of teams is complex and why mergers are so hard to navigate.

I don’t doubt the research that found Renegades fans would not be sold to a new entity nor would transfer allegiances to their rival Stars.

So the hope is all the supporters of these two teams will transfer their allegiances to the merged entity.

It will rely on Victorian blue, which is an old idea for a young fanbase on which the BBL thrives.

It’s anybody’s guess what the second team will represent.

If it’s the Rajasthan Royals, the IPL seizure is likely to prompt resentment.

This feels like the riskiest way to achieve the goal of capitol influx.

But the money is eye-watering.

From what I have been told there is little doubt the minimum sale price will be $180 million, and it’s entirely likely to be higher.

Interest out of Sri Lanka has turned heads. It’s clear there is demand from the US.

And Rajasthan has already quietly created a footprint in Melbourne.

It’s a global market that doesn’t flinch at the high price.

To justify what is being done with a public that ranges from skeptical to hostile when it comes to privatisation, there will need to be a compelling explanation of how the lump sum will fund cricket in this state for generations to come.

Whatever cricket ends up looking 10 or 20 years into the future here in Victoria, it will date back to the events of yesterday.

The revolution is at the door.