Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
Would New Zealand welcome a BBL team?
Nicholas Quinlan • October 25th, 2025 7:05 pm
Sport Nation’s Mark Stafford believes that most people in New Zealand would be in favour of there being a BBL side in the nation.
A New Zealand-based side has been suggested in the last few months, as Cricket Australia is in the midst of reviewing recommendations from Boston Consulting Group to improve the T20 competition.
When asked about it on SEN earlier in the month, CA CEO Todd Greenburg said that he was open-minded to the concept.
And according to Stafford, it would be embraced by the majority if it came to fruition.
“Most people would say yes,” he acknowledged on SEN Afternoons with Jimmy Smith.
While the addition of a BBL team would help the game in New Zealand, Stafford acknowledged that it would have an impact on New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition in the Super Smash.
But given that New Zealand internationals such as Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Colin Munro are playing in the Big Bash, an NZ-based team could help see these international representatives playing on home soil.
“We’ve got a great domestic product here called the Super Smash, but our marquee players, if they are signed by the Big Bash, they go play in that,” he explained.
We’re left with domestic cricket here, which…I don’t want to poo poo it, but no one really watches it, and it doesn’t get talked about until you get to the final.
And if a franchise were to be awarded, he believes that New Zealand Cricket would push for it to be based in Mount Maunganui with the team playing at The Bay Oval, which is two and a half hours away from Auckland.
And his occasional co-host, Anthony Gelling, also added that the venue would also get a good crowd despite being away from a major city.
“Not Auckland,” Stafford stated.
“Auckland is the worst set up for cricket in the country. They would probably try to take it to Mount Maunganui, Tauranga (in) The Bay Oval.
“(It) probably has the best weather in summer for guaranteed games.
“Decent crowd down there,” Gelling added.
The 15th season of the BBL gets underway from December 14 with the Perth Scorchers playing the Sydney Sixers at Optus Stadium.
