Melbourne derby set to attract a bumper crowd at the iconic MCG and there is more than competition points at stake
Local BBL derby adds spice for Stars
Melbourne Stars allrounder James Faulkner admits there will be more than competition points on the line when his side takes on the Melbourne Renegades on New Year's Day.
The Stars defeated the Renegades in front of a record crowd of 80,883 in the corresponding game in BBL|05 and Faulkner said winning the local derby was a source of great pride for his team.
Organisers are expecting a similar turn out for Sunday's game and Faulkner is hopeful the Stars can get their second win of the season in front of another record-breaking crowd.
"They're our massive two games of the year against the other Melbourne team," Faulkner said.
"They've got a good team ... I'm sure it's going to be a good contest - two big teams going against each other at the best ground in the world.
"It was an unbelievable atmosphere (last time).
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"There's not too many times you experience a crowd like that no matter where you're playing in the world. To play at the MCG in front of a home crowd (like that) is sensational.
"If we could get into the 90,000 (range) that would be nice. Even if we could get just one more person than last time that would be (great)."
The Renegades have only beaten the Stars at the MCG once in five attempts and are coming off a last-ball loss against the Perth Scorchers.
Star import Dwayne Bravo will also be sorely missed after he was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a serious hamstring injury suffered in that game.
The Stars will be looking to build on their season-opening win against the Hobart Hurricanes as they search for their maiden BBL title.
"We've been close every year, haven't we? We've made every single semi-final, we just haven't got over that final hurdle," Faulkner said.
"It's just about winning the crunch games. You've got to make the semi-final first of all and we've been good at that.
"Hopefully this is the year of the Stars, but there's a lot of hard work that has to go in before that."
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Meanwhile, MCG venue managers are preparing for a record BBL crowd.
The corresponding fixture in the last BBL tournament attracted a crowd of 80,883 that smashed the previous high mark.
The size of the turn out in BBL|05 caught venue managers, the Melbourne Cricket Club, by surprise with thousands of frustrated fans subjected to long queues to get into the ground and at food and beverage outlets inside.
All ticket booths and hospitality outlets will be fully staffed in preparation for a forecast 80,000-strong crowd but the MCC are strongly urging fans to pre-purchase tickets and get to the ground early to avoid delays.
"What we're trying to avoid is tens of thousands of people trying to buy a ticket at the ground on the day," MCC spokesman Shane Brown told AAP.
"Equally important is that fans get to the ground with plenty of time to go through the normal bag checks and security wanding.
"The last thing we want is for people to miss the start of the game.
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"We'll be ramped up and ready for a (record) crowd, so we're very confident in that regard, but if 50,000 people turn up half an hour before the game starts it won't matter how ready we are."
The fixture starts at 6:10pm AEDT and is also part of a double header, with the WBBL Stars take on the Renegades at 1.45pm.
"With the earlier WBBL game, family-friendly pre-match entertainment and an abundance of food and beverage outlets, there is plenty on offer for early arriving fans," Brown said.