The Hundred Wraps Up with Record Attendance and Uncertain Future

Tradition might not be a word often linked with The Hundred, but the sight of the men’s and women’s champions standing side by side on the Lord’s outfield, holding their enormous trophies as fireworks light up the sky, has become a celebrated part of the British cricketing summer.

With the conclusion of the fourth edition of The Hundred, there’s a mix of triumph and uncertainty in the air. This year’s tournament was not only marked by memorable performances but also by a significant shift in ownership, with all eight team stakes set to be sold this autumn, casting a shadow over the competition’s future.

Despite the uncertainty, The Hundred’s future seems secure. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) reported that 540,000 tickets were sold this year, pushing the total attendance over the first four years of the tournament to beyond two million. Notably, over one million of these tickets were for women’s games, and 2024 saw record crowds for women’s matches at seven of the eight venues used in The Hundred.

The competition has succeeded in attracting new audiences, with 41% of tickets sold to families and 30% to individuals new to cricket. This suggests that The Hundred has achieved its goal of engaging a broader audience and bringing fresh faces to the sport.

However, the tournament faced a challenge with TV viewing figures dipping compared to previous years. The overlap with the Olympics for two weeks in the middle of the tournament likely contributed to this decline. Nevertheless, the BBC's coverage of the men’s final drew almost half a million more viewers than in 2023, highlighting continued interest despite the broader competition for viewers' attention.

As The Hundred wraps up another successful season, the focus now shifts to the future of the tournament amidst the anticipated ownership changes. While its long-term trajectory remains uncertain, the tournament’s achievements in attendance and audience engagement mark a positive chapter in its short history.