CA shows buckets of love for BBL backer

CRICKET’S fast food bun fight over is over with KFC locked in as Big Bash sponsor despite a super-sized offer from McDonald’s.

KFC has been the naming rights partner of the BBL since its inception and has the gravy once again in an extended deal that includes sponsorship of the women’s BBL and women’s national team.

McDonald’s had staged an audacious bid to steal the naming rights and was reportedly prepared to pay more than the Colonel.

However, Cricket Australia bosses decided loyalty was worth more, and did not deviate from its intention to stick with the KFC bucket hats that have become a prominent feature in BBL crowds.

“It’s always our preference to reward the loyalty of our long-standing partners, and KFC is no exception, they’ve been with us for 17 years,” CA executive Anthony Everard said.

“They have become synonymous with the summer of cricket, primarily by their links to the BBL. They’re an iconic global brand, the images of the bucket heads in the crowd have become synonymous with the BBL.

“It was apparent very early on, that they had a strong desire to continue, and we’re delighted with their commitment to move forward with us. The commercial outcome is a really good one for cricket.”

There were reports that McDonald’s was baffled at not feeling it was given a proper chance to present its proposed $10m a year offer to CA bosses, but Cricket Australia is making no apologies for choosing loyalty over dollars.

“There’s a number of things that come into play ... the commitment and investment KFC have made particularly in those early days of the BBL, where it was a bit of a leap of faith and a bit of an unknown quantity — they have come with us,” Everard said.