Hobart to play a ‘home’ match in Alice Springs during BBL|09 after striking deal with NT Government

Hobart Hurricanes fans will see less of their team in town during BBL|09 after the franchise sold one of its matches to the Northern Territory. Find out the reason why.

Hurricanes fan Oliver Meers, 7, with Hurricanes players Riley Meredith, left, and Ben McDermott. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

THE Big Bash League is blowing into the Northern Territory this summer with the Hobart Hurricanes to play a “home” match in Alice Springs.

In an extension of the three-year partnership struck with NT Cricket earlier this year — the Hurricanes have entered both men’s and women’s team in the local Strike League competition — the club has sold one of its BBL fixtures slated for Blundstone Arena to Traeger Park.

The full BBL fixture will be revealed this morning, but the Mercury understands the match will feature one of the Sydney-based franchises, with the NT Government requesting an opposition side from either the Melbourne or Sydney markets.

It will leave six games in Tasmania, with Hobart to host four and UTAS Stadium in Launceston again having two.

While the decision is likely to anger some cricket fans, Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said the economic benefits will allow the organisation to channel money into grassroots cricket, growing its female program and upgrading facilities.

CEO of Cricket Tasmanian Nick Cummins. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Mr Cummins said last year’s fixture, the first time the competition had expanded to a full home and away roster, disadvantaged the small Tasmanian market.

“The reality is the period between Christmas and New Years is an extremely difficult one to maximise attendances in Tasmania,” Mr Cummins said.

“We understand some of our fans will be disappointed in having one less game than BBL|08, but the decision to play in the Northern Territory will provide us with a great opportunity to showcase Big Bash in the region and forms part of a greater alliance between Cricket Tasmania and NT Cricket.

“The Tasmanian cricketing community will see the benefits of this initiative via increased investment in community cricket, umpiring, our men and women’s elite programs as well as Cricket Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes member facilities.

“We will also use this opportunity to celebrate Tasmania’s indigenous culture and heritage, with more details to be announced shortly.”

Selling home matches to alternate markets is not unheard of — AFL clubs such as Richmond (Cairns), Melbourne (Alice Springs) and Port Adelaide (China) have been doing it for years — but the Hurricanes are the first BBL team to make such a move.