NZ: Canty Cricket has profit swing (2 Sep 1997)

September 02, 1997

Canty Cricket has profit swing

From The Press

Canterbury Cricket's roller-coaster finances took an upward swing in the last season with a profit of $17,524 -- an improvement of $34,000.

The deficit of the previous season was because of a poor international programme. However, the last season's tours by England and Sri Lanka, which both played in Christchurch, including matches under lights, gave hospitality and membership revenue raising ventures a boost.

The profit, recorded in the association's 120th annual report released yesterday, was achieved despite an increase in expenses of 40 per cent, the majority attributable to increasing playing activity and the cost of administering secondary schools' cricket in Christchurch.

An increase in income of 45 per cent over the last year enabled the surplus to be posted and while the majority came from the international arena (up by $106,267) income from sponsorship and grants -- up by 23 per cent.

Although attendances at Shell Cup one-day matches increased, the deficit in the Shell series area more than doubled to $35,913. This is attributable to extra cricket and also to an increase in player payments with the Canterbury players earning a double bonus for winning the Shell Cup and Shell Trophy.

Financial controller Euan West reports that Canterbury Cricket is under increased funding pressure with the national body leading a growth in playing the game at all levels. An extended Cricket Max programme and the introduction of Conference Cricket this season will mean additional costs and time pressures on administration.

West notes that Canterbury Cricket's expenses have risen almost 100 per cent in four seasons from $693,608 in 1992-93 to $1,362,615.

"Canterbury Cricket is still in a precarious financial position, each year sitting on a knife edge not knowing whether the uncertain income from international cricket, membership schemes and gate receipts will be forthcoming to record a surplus."

Chief executive Tony Murdoch said frequent representations had been made to NZC to consider allocating financial resources for associations to cover administration, especially with the introduction of Conference Cricket in November and another round of Cricket Max.

Murdoch said the southern conference side, comprising Canterbury and Otago, would be managed from Canterbury thus tieing up administrative staff and meaning that organisation and revenue raising would need to be completed earlier.

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)