Soaring heat, falling crowds - The Hundred's peculiar summer
BBC Sport looks at the numbers behind the drop in attendances at The Hundred compared to 2025, in the tournament's first year under new private ownership.
As cricket's newest summer league winds down, The Hundred faces an uncertain future amid a summer marked by both high temperatures and declining crowds. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) reported a 5% drop in ticket sales, from 580,000 to 550,000, attributing the decline to the significant change in ownership of the eight teams.
Despite this drop, demographic data remains consistent with previous years, with 22% of tickets sold to juniors, 40% to families, and 28% to female attendees. The tournament's new ownership, consisting of private investors, is expected to boost fan loyalty, but the transition period may contribute to the drop in attendance. The Hundred's success is evident in its growing broadcast and online audiences, and its social media presence, which attracted more viewers than ever before.
However, the tournament's slow start and fluctuating numbers across different venues suggest a transitional phase. Some grounds, like Cardiff's Sophia Gardens, enjoyed record crowds, while others, such as Headingley and Old Trafford, saw a decline in attendance due to completely rebranded teams. Tournament director Vikram Banerjee remains optimistic, asserting that The Hundred is performing better than ever before and securing a strong position in British sports.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
