The Hundred has seen a notable decline in attendances during the opening week of its 2026 season, with crowd figures dropping by nearly 20% despite the tournament entering a new era under private franchise ownership and attracting a stronger pool of international stars.
According to a report by , the first six men’s matches drew a combined attendance of 89,413, down 18.4% from the 109,519 spectators recorded across the corresponding fixtures in 2025.
Five of six venues record lower crowds
The report states that five of the six venues hosted smaller crowds than they did for their opening men’s fixtures last year.
The Oval, Utilita Bowl, Lord’s, Edgbaston and Headingley all witnessed year-on-year declines, while Cardiff bucked the trend by recording a tournament-best opening attendance of 11,796 on Saturday.
Headingley, which staged a match featuring England stars Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Jamie Smith, attracted 11,628 spectators compared to 12,575 for its opening fixture in 2025.
The decline was not limited to the men’s competition, with The Times reporting that attendances for the opening women’s matches also fell at five of the six venues.
Ticket prices and new ownership under scrutiny
The report suggested that higher ticket prices could be one factor behind the decline.
Standard tickets are understood to have risen to between £35 and £55, compared to the tournament’s early years when pricing was designed to compete with the Vitality Blast.
This season also marks the first under the Hundred’s new ownership model following the sale of franchise stakes earlier this year. The auction generated £520 million and valued the eight franchises at £975 million, bringing in owners from the Indian Premier League and Major League Cricket while increasing player salary bands and attracting higher-profile overseas signings.
According to The Times, responsibility for ticket sales has shifted from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to the new franchise owners in partnership with host county clubs, although the ECB continues to provide operational support.
Sources cited by the newspaper acknowledged that some ownership groups may have been slow to begin marketing campaigns ahead of the tournament.
New franchise identities still finding their audience
SunRisers Leeds co-owner Kaviya Maran admitted attracting supporters remains a priority as the franchise begins life under its new identity.
“We need to get the crowds in,” Maran told The Times.
Calling the opening day at Headingley “a good beginning,” she added: “I see a lot of orange and that’s a great start for us. Obviously it’s a new brand for them. We just grow from here.”
Stronger competition, smaller crowds
The attendance dip comes despite conditions appearing favourable for the tournament.
Unlike previous years, the Hundred is being played after the FIFA World Cup and before the start of the Premier League season, giving it a relatively clear sporting window in the UK.
The Times also reported that approximately 4,000 tickets were given away for the tournament opener at The Oval, where MI London-formerly Oval Invincibles-began the defence of their men’s title. The official attendance for that fixture was announced as 20,540.
With the competition running until August 16, organisers and franchise owners will be hoping attendances improve as the tournament progresses.