westoelad wrote: If it was simply a case of potential v actual there would be a case for potential if ECB had carried out some market research to see if that potential existed. I'm pretty certain that there weren't hoards of Bristolians traveling 40+ miles to the Swalec when Gloucs played there in domestic T20. Reality suggests that Franchise T20 will be no better than the current domestic T20 given that centrally contracted players won't be available, India, for one, have indicated that they won't issue NOCs and it will clash with the W.Indian equivalent. 2 T20s in 1 season will result in overkill with a real danger of killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
I think you are missing the point somewhat, Westo. The ECB are in the clouds dreaming that this tournament becomes EPL sized, and in ten years they will be playing to 70,000 people on a July night in newly built mega stadiums, with 300 million Chinese people clung to their tvs at 4am. It seems everything is not geared on what current trends and reality are showing, they believe this is a new product, that the rebranding will take it outside of its current box. All I am saying is, if they made the whole business plan based on those types of assumptions, it doesnt take much to see why Cardiff was favoured. Somerset and a few other counties have managed to do well, but it does seem questionable how much growth is there. And thats what they want. If there is no increase in net ticket sales to current, then this switch will be seen as a dramatic disaster. They have to make this work, and make it work very well.
Having said that, its also arguable that when you put something like this in an area with no competition, it becomes a main draw. Just look at the NFL, where the small Wisconsin town of Green Bay fills a stadium of 80,000 people literally every time they play. They are fanatical in the local area because its literally their only cultural output. Seems Somerset have that to a certain extent with their ticket sales at current.
But still, I think AP is right. Id slapped it in Bristol..... but obviously Cardiff was chosen because the county ground in Horfield is tiny.
