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Projected figures show Perth is expected to bring in millions of dollars less than Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide over the next five years in a blow to its bid to host the pre-Christmas Test every year.<\/p>\n
Combined projected revenue of $60 million for the Boxing Day and New Year\u2019s Tests, shared exclusively with this masthead, mean the MCG and SCG fixtures are locked in for the foreseeable future, as Cricket Australia continues discussions about its schedule over the next seven years.<\/p>\n
But Perth\u2019s projected revenue is $10 million less than Adelaide in third, as South Australia and Western Australia continue a fierce battle to secure the Test match slot that was awarded to Perth this year, only to be played in front of smaller crowds than organisers hoped for.<\/p>\n
Three sources with knowledge of discussions between Cricket Australia and the state associations, speaking on condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing, have provided figures for Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth with this masthead.<\/p>\n
Melbourne\u2019s Boxing Day Test and Sydney\u2019s New Year\u2019s Test are the two most lucrative matches on the annual calendar, expected to rake in around $32 million and $27 million respectively over the next five years.<\/p>\n
The Adelaide Test, which has become a highly successful \u201cdestination match\u201d for eastern states tourists since the oval was redeveloped a decade ago, and is often played as a day\/night fixture, is projected to collect gate and corporate box receipts worth more than $20 million over that time.<\/p>\n
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The crowds were not out in force in Perth.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n But Perth, or the \u201cWest Test\u201d, is projected to bring in just $11 million over the same period.<\/p>\n WA\u2019s argument for the Test match slot that Adelaide also wants is largely driven by the size of Perth Stadium. First open for a Test match in December 2018, the stadium is primarily designed for AFL fixtures, but also possesses a lively pitch that gives the national men\u2019s team a decided advantage.<\/p>\n With a cricket capacity of around 55,000 the stadium has been packed for numerous Perth Scorchers games, but far fewer have turned up for Tests. An Ashes match is yet to be played at the ground.<\/p>\n Outgoing WACA CEO Christina Matthews said before the Test that she would like to \u201csee between 20 and 25,000 on each of the first three days\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we don\u2019t get that, it\u2019s not the end of the world, it just demonstrates how far we\u2019ve got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n There were 16,259 in the stands on day one, 17,666 on day two, 15,956 on day three and 9244 on day four.<\/p>\n Two senior broadcast sources, speaking to his masthead on condition of anonymity in order to talk freely, stated that the main priority for Foxtel and Seven was to play matches at venues that were full to capacity \u2013 after the fashion of the Ashes Tests recently played in England \u2013 even if they provide smaller crowds overall.<\/p>\n For CA, Perth is seen as the biggest potential place of revenue upside for the game. But there is also an argument to be made that more can be done to fill Adelaide Oval or the SCG beyond their current revenue levels.<\/p>\n Adelaide would have brought Cricket Australia an additional $10 million under the projected figures had the governing body agreed to extend a deal with Adelaide Oval\u2019s Stadium Management Authority that was first struck in 2014. It featured the payment of a fee of almost $2 million per year in return for preferential scheduling in and around mid-December each year.<\/p>\n But the deal expired this year and the just-completed Perth Test was scheduled for mid-December.<\/p>\n Adelaide was initially going to be shunted to late January against the West Indies but that fixture changed to mid-January after lobbying by the South Australian Cricket Association and the state\u2019s Premier Peter Malinauskas.<\/p>\n Brisbane was awarded the second Test against the West Indies around the January 26 weekend.<\/p>\n The Gabba is soon to be rebuilt ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games, with uncertainty around how the new venue will look. There is concern among some senior cricket figures that the rebuild will create another vast concrete bowl of similar dimensions to Perth Stadium, without the inclusion of a hill or open air views that are so suited for cricket in Adelaide.<\/p>\n CA did not deny the veracity of the projection figures when asked by this masthead, but confirmed that the bidding process for future Test matches was ongoing. An outcome is expected early in the new year.<\/p>\n \u201cAustralian cricket has a proven track record of building and delivering mutually beneficial partnerships that deliver significant economic and social benefits for governments,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n \u201cCricket Australia is working collaboratively with all state and territory governments to provide long-term certainty of international cricket hosting rights to maximise benefits for local communities and the game.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Most Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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