For over a decade, the Big Bash League, more commonly known as the BBL, has been Australia’s premier domestic T20 cricket league. Rivalling the likes of India’s IPL, the tournament attracts top stars from around the world, with Steve Smith, Lasith Malinga, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, and Andrew Flintoff among the legendary names to have taken part through the years.
Fast-paced and fun, BBL games are full of action, so you can expect big sixes and plenty of wickets each and every time you visit the stadium. For many, Big Bash action has become a staple of the Australian summer, and a colourful, friendly atmosphere, as well as great prices, make taking in a game a perfect day out for the whole family.
This guide is designed to help you make the most out of your BBL experience, so read on for more tips and information. If you’re still looking for tickets, visit our Buying BBL Tickets Guide for all the latest on securing seats.
- What to Bring and Wear
- When to Arrive
- Venue Parking and Transport
- Entry Gates
- Finding Your Seat
- Game Format and Schedule
- Crowds and Other Fans
- Taking Photographs and Videos
- Autographs
- Merchandise
- Food and Drink
- Toilets
- Leaving and Exiting the Venue
- Make the Most of It
What to Bring and Wear
While it might seem obvious, the first thing to remember to bring to a BBL game is your ticket. BBL tickets are distributed as either mobile tickets, which can be scanned on a mobile device (so make sure your phone is fully charged), or as print @ home tickets, which must be printed and presented upon your arrival at the venue. You can generally choose your preferred delivery method upon checkout.
Items you cannot bring to a BBL game include alcohol, glass, cans, firearms, weapons, explosives, and animals (other than guide dogs or certified assistance animals). Bags and cool bags are permitted at most BBL games, but generally must be small enough to fit under your seat (it’s best to check specific bag size information with the venue before game day). Other useful items to bring to a BBL game include sunscreen, home-prepared snacks for personal consumption, and sealed bottles of water.
In terms of what to wear, BBL matches take place throughout the Australian summer, so be prepared for sunshine and high temperatures. For standard ticket holders, there is no strict dress code at matches, although “commercial, political, religious, negatively motivated, or offensive signage, clothing or logos” are not permitted. Weather will likely dictate your outfit and most fans dress casually and comfortably, with hats and sunglasses a must, especially in areas likely to receive direct sunlight. You’re also sure to see plenty of team merchandise being worn at the game too, which can be found in the BBL store online.
As with most cricket matches, home and away fans sit together and you can openly support either side, but due to the significant distances between some BBL stadiums, expect the crowd to be overwhelmingly in favour of the home team. For those in VIP sections or Member’s areas, you will need to check with the venue or ticket supplier for more information on what you may be required to wear as this can vary. Often, premium areas request that guests wear “neat-casual” attire, including collared shirts for men, but this is not always the case.
When to Arrive
Gates generally open around 1 hour and 30 minutes before BBL games begin. If you have General Admission tickets with unreserved seats, you may want to arrive as soon as gates open to give yourself the widest selection of seats to choose from. Alternatively, if you have reserved seats, arriving between 45–60 minutes before play begins should give you plenty of time to enter and get settled, including any visits to the concession stand.
Venue Parking and Transport
BBL matches attract tens of thousands of fans, which means that planning ahead is vital when it comes to the topic of parking and transport. If you are driving to a match, most venues provide official parking close to the venue, but pre-booking is highly recommended in all cases. To find out more about official parking, or to book a space, visit the home team or venue website. Alternatively, public and private parking options can be found on sites like Parkopedia. While driving is a good option for those travelling long distances to a BBL game, traffic congestion can sometimes lead to delays, especially at venues in major cities. If you are driving to a game, remember to leave in plenty of time and plan for delays.
When possible, public transport is often the best way to get to a BBL game. Most Australian cities have excellent public transport, so taking the bus, train, or tram to the match may be worth considering. Each Australian state has a dedicated public transport website to help you with your travel plans, and for those coming from out of town, park & ride schemes can also be a good way to avoid pre and post-game congestion. If you do opt to make use of public transport, remember to check for any cancellations or closures before you set off, and leave plenty of time for unexpected delays.
For more information on getting to a game, visit your chosen venue’s Travel & Parking page on Koobit.
Entry Gates
BBL matches take place at some of Australia’s largest cricket venues, so expect to find multiple gates or entrances. Of course, this will depend on the venue – BBL’s biggest stadium, the MCG, has 7 main gates, while the tournament’s smallest stadium, C.ex Coffs International Stadium, has only one main entrance.
Enter the stadium at the gate listed on your ticket, or at any gate if no specific entrance is named. Automated scanners, or staff with handheld scanners, will be on hand to validate your ticket. Security checks will also be in place at all venues, so expect either manual searches or to pass through electronic detectors and scanners. Security checks can lead to longer queues, especially at venues with fewer gates, so be sure to leave time for this. Bags can also slow down your entry as these have to be searched, so leave your bag at home if you want to speed things up. In general, entry protocols and security checks are very well organised at BBL venues, especially larger, more modern stadiums, and you shouldn’t expect to wait too long.
Finding Your Seat
Most BBL venues are circular or oval in shape, with varying tiers of seating surrounding the pitch. Some stadiums may also have hill or mound areas for unreserved seating. During the game, you will usually be able to access the whole stadium, or at the very least, your entire seating level, but you can only sit in your designated seat (for reserved ticket holders) or seating section (for GA ticket holders).
Finding your seat at a BBL match will be a different experience depending on whether you have reserved or unreserved (GA) seats:
For ticket holders with reserved seats, you will find a specific section, row, and seat number on your ticket. Follow these directions to find where you are sitting. The section (sometimes known as a “bay”) number is your starting point and is likely to be 3 characters long (124, M56 etc). The first digit or letter often indicates the level of the venue you will be sat on, for instance, seat 124 would be on the 100 Level, which is often located lower down than seats on the 200 or 300 Level. Similarly, seat M56 would be on the M Level, which is the lowest level at the MCG, with Levels N, P, and Q higher up. All BBL stadiums are well signposted, but leave plenty of time to find your seat (it’s good to locate it as soon as you arrive) and feel free to ask stadium staff if you need any help.
For General Admission ticket holders, your seats are unreserved, so you will not find a specific seat number on your ticket. Instead, your ticket will list a specific area in which you can choose to sit in any unoccupied seat. As with reserved ticket holders, you may find a section or bay number on your ticket, or a selection of bays to choose from (e.g. Section 308, 308 – 310, or 300 Level). If your ticket does not specify an area, or only states General Admission, then refer to the seating chart, or ask a member of staff where you can find the unreserved GA area.
To ensure you see the game from the first ball, it’s best to be in your seat from around 15 minutes before the game’s stated start time. Fans are free to visit the concourse at any time during a match, but it’s best to do so between overs or during the short break between innings.
For more information on specific ticket types available at a BBL game, visit our Buying BBL Tickets Guide.
Game Format and Schedule
BBL matches usually last around 3 hours or less, depending on how each team performs. Games are played under standard T20 rules, but you can also expect fireworks, cheerleaders, mascots, giveaways and other extras to keep the crowd amused.
BBL match format is as follows:
- Team 1 Innings (79-minute time limit)
- Short break for change of innings
- Team 2 Innings (79-minute time limit)
For more details on the format and rules of BBL matches, visit our Beginner’s Guide to the Big Bash League.
Crowds and Other Fans
BBL matches are colourful, family-friendly affairs, and the crowd at games is a reflection of this. Low prices and a simplified format make the BBL accessible to all, and a focus on a fun, child-friendly atmosphere have resulted in a diverse crowd of all ages and interests. Often loud, social, and good-natured, BBL crowds are still generally passionate about the game, but many fans also see matches as a more casual form of cricket – a world-class sporting spectacle that is also a great way to spend an evening with friends or family.
Taking Photographs and Videos
Taking photographs and videos for your own personal use is permitted at all BBL games.
Camera tripods, monopods, and commercial digital video equipment are prohibited at BBL games, as is the taking of any photos, videos or sound for commercial/promotional purposes.
Autographs
At BBL matches, players will occasionally sign autographs before or after the game. The best way to try for an autograph is to go down to the front of the lower seating bowl at these times, close to where the players are located. As long as fans are polite and respectful, players are usually more than happy to sign a couple of autographs in these areas when they have a free moment. However, ultimately, BBL players are working and, especially before the game, will be focused on the match, so it’s best not to assume you will be able to get a signature.
Merchandise
Home team merchandise is available on the concourse or in the stadium store during BBL games, but the best prices are usually available online. If you want to be prepared for your trip to the BBL, or are just looking for the best value, visit the official BBL store online.
Food and Drink
Sealed water/soft drinks in plastic bottles and home-prepared snacks for personal consumption can generally be taken into BBL games. Glass bottles can not be taken into the venue, and alcohol can only be purchased inside.
Once inside the venue, you will find a wide range of food and beverages available to buy. The offering will vary depending on the venue, with larger or more modern stadiums usually providing a wide range of items. Typical stadium food and drink will be available at all venues, including soft drinks, beer, wine, pies, hotdogs, and burgers. All food and drink, including alcohol, can be enjoyed at your seat. As is the case with most modern sports venues, BBL stadium concessions have a reputation for being fairly expensive, with food items at the MCG costing AUD $6 and up, and draught beer usually starting at over $10.
Most BBL stadiums are cashless venues, meaning you will only be able to use a debit or credit card at concession stands and in stores. Some venues have reverse ATMs onsite, which can load cash on to a free debit card for use both inside and outside the venue, but it’s best to bring a card in case.
Toilets
Toilets are available on all levels at BBL stadiums, and you are never likely to be more than one or two sections away from a facility. The MCG, for example, has toilets and accessible toilets in all 4 stands, as well as baby changing facilities, parents’ rooms, and an all-gender bathroom. While you are free to leave the seating bowl and use the toilets at any time during the game, it’s best to go before the game begins as queues can build during the innings break, although all venues should have enough bathrooms to prevent major lines.
Leaving and Exiting the Venue
Most fans will leave BBL games as soon as the action is over, so it may take up to 10 minutes or so to exit the stadium depending on the attendance. To avoid the rush, feel free to hang back and let it pass, or explore merchandise offerings if still available. Similarly, especially in uncompetitive games, some fans who need to exit quickly may choose to leave before the final wicket.
For drivers, it’s worth noting that exiting official car parks can be slow as all cars will be leaving at a similar time. While public transport options near BBL stadiums are generally good, it might also be worth walking a short distance to the next bus, tram, or train stop if you want to avoid crowds at stations closest to the venue. In short, if you know that you will need to make a quick exit after the game, plan for this ahead of time and act accordingly to avoid the rush.
Make the Most of It
BBL games are all about having fun. A fast-paced and colourful celebration of cricket and the Australian summer, matches provide a chance to get outside, spend time with family or friends, and enjoy some thrilling sporting action to boot. To ensure you have a great time on the day of your chosen BBL game, remember to plan ahead and double-check you have everything you need. Most of all, relax, soak up the sights and sounds, and bask in the glory of the Big Bash!