THE Gold Coast is likely to have a Big Bash team, but fans should not hold their breath waiting for it.

Big Bash boss Anthony Everard sees the glitter strip as a “natural fit” for a Twenty20 franchise but insists there is no rush to expand the eight-team competition.

Speculation has been rife there will be Big Bash expansion as part of cricket’s next broadcast deals when the current rights expire in 2018, but that is not necessarily the case.

The Big Bash has become a cash cow but cricket bosses are wary of killing the goose by expanding too quickly.

Big bash stars Holly Ferling and Chris Lynn at Sea World. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

However Everard gave every indication the Gold Coast would have a Big Bash team in the future. The tourist strip would be warm favourites for a team if there was to be two more teams added from a likely short list which would include Geelong and Canberra.

“The Gold Coast would be a natural fit (for a team) and it is on our radar,” Everard said.

“The Big Bash is about fun, family entertainment and those ingredients really do lend themselves to that part of the world on the Gold Coast.

“The Gold Coast ticks a lot of boxes for us, with all the families and kids down there, and there is no reason a Big Bash team would not be successful there.’’

Chris Lynn high-fives SpongeBob SquarePants at Sea World. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

The Gold Coast got a splash of the colour of the Big Bash yesterday when players including Brisbane Heat’s Chris Lynn and Holly Ferling visited Sea World to help promote a new corporate partnership and the launch of BBL tickets on sale Friday.

The Big Bash has linked with global kids entertainment brand Nickelodeon in a partnership which will include a new Big Bash kids TV show produced by Network Ten and Nickelodeon.

The colourful T20 competition is flying high and the next broadcast deal could net up to three times what Channel Ten paid when they signed a $100 million five-year deal in 2013.

Everard said expansion was in the blueprint for the future but it would not necessarily be as part of the next broadcast deal.

Heat star Chris Lynn gets slimmed! Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia

“From our perspective, this is not a race (to expand). We already have a winning formula,” Everard said.

“There are plenty of other sporting leagues around the world that might have expanded too quickly because they did not make the right decisions.

“From our perspective, the existing structure of the competition has plenty of upside.

“Despite the huge success of the Big Bash, we are still not at a point where demand is exceeding supply.

“The issues of the next broadcast deal and expansion are not necessarily linked, and we will look at them separately.’’

Metricon Stadium, home of the Gold Coast Suns, would be the logical base for a Gold Coast Big Bash team, using a drop-in pitch.