MELBOURNE: Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League has announced Weber Barbecues, the world’s leading barbecue brand, as WBBL’s new naming rights partner.
From this season, the league will be known as the Weber WBBL, signalling the start of a new era of innovation for the world’s leading cricket competition for women. Weber will also become a supplier of the KFC Big Bash League.
In addition, the Weber WBBL|07 season will feature a new finals series format that provides greater reward for the side that finishes atop the regular season table.
Established in Chicago, USA in 1952, Weber was first introduced to Australia in 1978 by Adelaide-based Ross McDonald. In the decades since, Ross and his son Michael, now the company’s current managing director for Australia and New Zealand, have harnessed their passion for barbecuing to make the Weber name synonymous with Australian backyards.
The Weber WBBL partnership is also an extension of the McDonald family’s longstanding links with cricket, with Ross’ daughter Fiona making 35 WNCL appearances for South Australia. Together, Weber, the league and its clubs will work to continue challenging the perceptions of the role of women and men, both in sport and at home.
Finals format
A new Finals format has been introduced for Weber WBBL|07, providing greater reward for the top-placed team after the 56-game regular season and increased alignment to the KFC BBL Finals system.
The first-placed side will now progress to, and host, The Final on Saturday, November 27, giving their fans the best chance to see their side live in a home decider.
Teams placed second to fourth will play off for the right to contest The Final, via:
– The Eliminator (third vs fourth) on Wednesday, November 24, and
– The Challenger (second vs winner of The Eliminator) on Thursday, November 25.
– Both matches will be played at the home venue of the second placed team.
Confirmation of host venues for all Weber WBBL|07 series finals matches will be subject to state border restrictions, public health conditions and their related impacts.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s general manager of Big Bash Leagues, said: “The new Weber WBBL|07 Finals format adds more incentive than ever to finishing on top of the table after the 56-game regular season.
“Not only will teams have a guaranteed path to The Final, they’ll also have the backing of a strong home crowd, with fans given more time to secure their ticket to the Final.
“The League views The Final as a marquee moment in the summer of Big Bash and we look forward to creating an unmissable event to cap the Weber WBBL|07 season.”
