CHEAP TICKETS NOT ENOUGH TO PULL THE MASSES
IF THERE’S one thing South Africans are good at, it’s complaining. We’re able to spot flaws a mile away.
So when the inaugural Mzansi Super League matches kicked off, instead of seeing the potential of the tournament, its ability to grow the game of cricket, and the ambition to take the sport to the masses, we scoffed at the empty stadiums, and took to social media to bemoan the marketing, timing and venue choices.
What more does the sports-mad public want? Here was a tournament that showcased not only the best T20 cricketers in the country, but also many from across the world in our backyards at ticket prices more akin to a bottom of the table domestic warm-up fixture than top-flight international cricket. And we were served top-flight international cricket.
Yes, attendance was low at many of the fixtures earlier in the tournament. But Newlands, never a ground to let the TV cameras down, turned out in force, and in full voice at this weekend’s final. It was packed.
The Jozi Stars easily rolled over the Cape Town Blitz for an eight-wicket win to be crowned the inaugural MSL T20 champions.
But the cricket was the sideshow. The real core of the tournament was the vision of its chief executive Thabang Moroe, who, alongside the SABC’s Chris Maroleng, spoke about the challenge this competition had in taking the game to the masses.
At the launch of the Paarl Rocks, Drakenstein mayor Conrad Poole spoke about the proximity of impoverished townships to Boland Park, Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis’ home ground for the MSL T20, and how youngsters from these townships would be inspired by the international stars playing on their doorsteps. Low ticket prices help grant better access to the sport.
But transport, food and beverage costs and associated merchandising costs also become prohibitive factors.
A family of four might have to pay only R120 to get into the stadium, but could find themselves heavily out of pocket after having to buy food and drinks. And they still need to travel home using public transport (from Newlands to Mitchells Plain after dark is a daunting prospect).
In principle, the MSL T20’s strategy to make cricket more accessible is a noble one, but it will take more than cheap tickets to entice a broader audience.