County game boosted by record crowds
Attendances in English domestic cricket rose by 23% last year to a record 1.5 million across the four competitions
Cricinfo staff
22-Jan-2009
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The County Championship benefited from the biggest rise, increasing 30% from 2007 in a season that ended with Durham claiming their first title on the final day of the campaign. It was the second successive season that had seen a close finish, following the thrilling end between Sussex and Lancashire in 2007.
Total attendance for the County Championship was 558,950, although that only represents an average of just over 2000 people watching each game and the numbers are based on the period since the ECB was formed in 1997.
The Twenty20 Cup, which had an increased number of matches, was the most watched domestic tournament with 593,717 people turning out for the group matches, quarter-finals and finals.
The Pro40, which finishes after the 2009 season, recorded a rise of 4% and the only competition to see a dip in figures was the Friends Provident Trophy which went down by 7%. That can probably been attributed to being run early in the season when the weather had an impact on a number of matches.
"We are delighted to see the county game continue to grow across England and Wales," said David Collier, the ECB chief executive. "Many counties have invested heavily in their facilities offering a vastly improved spectator experience which coupled with some thrilling cricket in 2008, ensures the fabric of our sport remains strong."
Overall, attendances at domestic and international matches rose by 10%, with 2,243,496 fans attending matches in 2008, the highest figure recorded.
In the current financial climate the ECB will be watching attendance figures very carefully over the coming season, especially with the English Premier League (EPL) due to start in 2010.