As far as promotions go, it was a fizzer.
But Melbourne Stars had little else to complain about after cruising to an eight-wicket Big Bash League win on the Gold Coast, snapping a five-game losing run against Sydney Thunder.
After restricting the Thunder to 8-136 on a slow Metricon Stadium deck, the "hosts" reached the victory target with 16 balls to spare.
Nick Larkin (41 not out off 41 balls) and captain Glenn Maxwell (41 not out 31) steered the Stars (3-2) to their second straight victory and second on the ladder.
Stars all-rounder Marcus Stoinis also thrashed 34 off 22 balls.
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It was an impressive run chase - what a pity so few witnessed it.
The Stars took the game to the tourist strip to promote their brand but sadly the game only attracted 8156 fans - the lowest BBL crowd of the season.
It eclipsed the previous worst 8788 attendance at the Thunder-Stars game at Canberra.
It was also the Stars' worst home crowd, well short of the 12,506 that attended their 2012-13 semi-final against Hobart Hurricanes at MCG.
Still, it provided a winning send-off for Stoinis, Maxwell and legspinner Adam Zampa - who earlier claimed 1-22 - before the trio link with the Australian one-day team.
Earlier, late hitting from Daniel Sams lifted the Thunder to 8-135.
Sams thrashed 42 off 25 balls - including four sixes - to rescue the Thunder, who were reeling at 5-71 after former Australian one-day quick Scott Boland (2-28) struck early.
After winning the toss, the Thunder were left shellshocked when Boland went within a whisker of claiming a hat-trick.
Boland removed BBL leading run scorer Jos Buttler (18) and Callum Ferguson before England Test captain Joe Root (26 off 28) nicked the hat-trick ball but it didn't carry to wicketkeeper Seb Gotch.
The Thunder had no answer to the Stars' attack despite the Melbourne outfit being without Nepalese leg spin sensation Sandeep Lamichhane, who has left for the Bangladesh Premier League.
He was replaced by England quick Liam Plunkett who claimed 1-23 while Stoinis took 2-29.
