BEING immersed in the Superbowl-style atmosphere of an Ashes Test has convinced American sports marketing guru Dan Migala that next summer’s expanded Twenty20 Big Bash League can become a phenomenon in this country.
"If I’d been blindfolded and you hadn’t told me where I was, I could easily have guessed I was at the Superbowl or baseball’s World Series because of the atmosphere around me before that first ball of the series at the Gabba," Migala enthused after the second day's play."
"When you have a sporting contest as the heartbeat of a town and dare I say the country, you know the ingredients are there to make the Big Bash a real success.
"The analogy I would choose is taking a classic book and rewriting it as a screenplay to put it on the big screen."
"Cricket’s core will still be there but the Big Bash will reach a whole new audience."
The Chicago native’s Wednesday visit to inspect the revamp that is transforming tired old Carrara Stadium and a chat to Big Bash team backers at the Gold Coast is also a strong indicator that the coastal strip is in the box seat to secure one of the eight city-based franchises for the 2011-12 launch plan.
The success of the Ashes is all about tradition but Migala, whose visit was organised by Queensland Cricket, sees no hurdle with the Big Bash having none.
"We want to re-create those same feelings of joy, memories and shared experiences for a younger audience and have the entertainment factor and pace right up," Migala said.
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