The 2017 NatWest T20 Blast and Kia Super League have set new records for T20 attendance in England and Wales.
For the NatWest T20 Blast, official attendance figures from the 18 counties have reached 883,000, including the 24,426 sell-out for Saturday at Edgbaston – a new record for Finals Day.
With the growing attendances for the second season of the Kia Super League, it means that a new domestic T20 attendance of 907,000 had been set even before today’s KSL Finals Day in Hove.
Gordon Hollins, the ECB’s Chief Operating Officer, said:
“It’s a genuine pleasure to be able to congratulate all 18 first-class counties for their outstanding efforts in making the 2017 Blast such a hit.
“The competition moved to a new place in the schedule this year, with all games played in a block in July and August rather than spread through the summer. That was welcomed by the players and has helped draw the crowds to NatWest T20 Blast - in bigger numbers then ever before.
“The change created some fresh challenges for counties alongside the new opportunities but the record advance sales show how well the game has responded – the counties deserve huge credit.
“The quality of the cricket has been very clear too, with further records set for runs scored and sixes hit – our thanks to the players for producing such entertaining games.
“Good luck to the four teams who have qualified for Finals Day – Glamorgan, Hampshire, the Notts Outlaws and the Birmingham Bears – and setting up a fitting climax to a memorable competition.”
The aggregate NatWest T20 Blast attendance figure is an 8% increase on 2016, and a 7% increase on the 2015 figure, which had set the previous record since the Twenty20 Cup was introduced in 2003.
With a standard on-sale date across the game, more advance tickets were sold than before whilst average venue occupancy and attendance in the Blast also reached a new high – with venue occupancy at 63%, beating last year’s record of 61%, and average attendances reaching 7,500.
NatWest T20 Blast, Finals Day, Edgbaston
11am Glamorgan v Birmingham Bears, 230pm Hampshire v Notts Outlaws.
Final 645pm.