By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Fullview SA.
Five years ago, Betway SA20 was still an idea being shaped in meeting rooms. On Monday night in Johannesburg, that idea celebrated its fifth anniversary with a clear message: the competition has established itself, but there is no intention of standing still.
The “Five Years of Incredible” launch brought together the people behind the league and those already looking towards its next chapter. Four sold out seasons have followed the inaugural campaign, Season 5 is taking shape, and title sponsor Betway remains firmly invested in what comes next.
“There is a lot more to come,” said Jason Shield, Betway’s Head of Sponsorship. “Betway has always been innovative, and we have a lot more to bring to the table. We need to keep moving. The future looks bright as a title sponsor.”
Shield reflected on the decision to back Graeme Smith as commissioner and invest in an untested six franchise T20 competition, backed by six IPL owners. Betway wanted the naming rights from the outset. Five years later, that gamble has developed into a major fixture on the South African sporting calendar, with packed stadiums, an expanding commercial footprint and some of the biggest names in world cricket.
Smith and Chief Operating Officer Lynn Naude also looked back at the work required to turn the concept into a functioning competition.
The organisers had to establish a shareholding structure outside the traditional federation model, secure SuperSport as a founding broadcaster and persuade six IPL owners, players and commercial partners to buy into a tournament that had no track record.
There was no guarantee the world’s leading T20 players would come. There was no certainty broadcasters would embrace the product or that supporters would fill six stadiums.
The numbers now provide a very different picture.
Four consecutive SA20 finals have sold out, while 22 of 34 matches in Season 4 were sold out. Attendances increased by 13 percent, underlining the competition’s growing appeal.
The economic impact has been equally significant.
An independent Economic Impact Assessment found that Season 4 contributed R6.5 billion to South Africa’s GDP, a 23 percent increase year on year. Direct expenditure rose from R1.8 billion to R2.2 billion, while the competition supported 9,470 annualised jobs, up 16 percent.
Household income generated through the tournament also increased from R1.4 billion to R1.7 billion.
For Smith, those figures demonstrate that the competition’s influence extends well beyond the boundary. “Four seasons in, we can see the impact of Betway SA20 extending well beyond what happens on the field,” he said. “A R6.5 billion contribution to GDP, almost 9 500 jobs supported and R1.7 billion in household income are significant numbers and demonstrate the broader value that a successful South African sporting property can create.”
That impact is felt across the league’s six host cities and six IPL backed franchises. Match days bring supporters into stadiums and surrounding areas, creating opportunities for local businesses while generating employment around the events.
The league’s social impact has also grown. During Season 4, SA20 raised R500,000 for its social impact partner Laureus Sport for Good, while more than 400 young beneficiaries were given the opportunity to experience live cricket.
Attention now turns to Season 5.
The new campaign begins on Sunday, 17 January 2027 at St George’s Park, with defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape facing Pretoria Capitals in a repeat of last season’s final.
The season runs through to the final at Newlands on Sunday, 21 February. Boland Park in Paarl will host its first SA20 playoff when it stages Qualifier 1, while the Wanderers will host the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 before the competition returns to Cape Town for the final.
Four Saturday double headers are also scheduled.
The Player Auction on 7 October will determine the remaining 19 squad places, with R35.025 million still available to spend. A number of major names are already confirmed through pre signings and retentions, including Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root, Sam Curran, Phil Salt, Jason Holder, Will Jacks, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Donovan Ferreira.
Smith believes the squads assembled for Season 5 represent the strongest group yet.
Five years after those early planning meetings, Betway SA20 no longer needs to prove that the concept can work. The sold out stadiums, international talent, commercial growth and economic impact have provided that evidence.
The challenge now is different. It is about finding the next level, and the people who helped build SA20 are already looking towards it.