Hearn Defends Premier League Darts Changes As Fans Attend In Huge Numbers

Professional Darts Corporation President Barry Hearn has been defending the new format changes recently introduced to Premier League darts, countering feedback from fans about the freshly introduced repetitive nature of the tournament.

With mixed feedback coming in from fan reviews, Hearn has instead chosen to focus on the bumper ticket sales the revamp has created, along with the television viewing figures it has attracted after being aired from Newcastle by broadcaster Sky Sports, insisting the new format has exceeding hoped for expectations in its first year. UK’s major betting platforms also adjusted - offered enhanced odds on Premier League Darts tournaments and deals similar to bet365 that still offers a sign-up code for new betting customers who wish a free bet.

As fans will know, for 2022 the nomadic darting roadshow saw numerous changes, with eight players now featuring in a mini competition each week with quarter finals, semi finals and a final. The individual night's winner collects five points for their success, in additional to a winning £10,000 bonus. The runner up receives three points, with the losing semi finalists receiving two points each. With the league phase now having been completed, the Play off battles in their usual format will take place on June 13 out in Berlin and will feature Jonny Clayton, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Joe Cullen.

Although the more samey nature of the format attracted plenty of criticism, it is difficult not to see Hearn's point in his defence of the changes and the ultimate future of the competition.

"A lot of people said it sounded a bit samey, the same eight guys playing in a competition for 16 weeks and four of them making the play-offs," Hearn explained despite handing the chairmanship of the PDC over to his son Eddie the previous year.

"When you say it like that, it sounds like we’re taking a bit of a chance but what we actually did is create 16 local winners. We created a lot more interest among bookmakers because it was a proper competition that had an end each night."

On the topic of defying internal expectations for its success, he went on to explain.

"I was surprised by how well it worked. The TV ratings are up, the audience appreciation schedules that we prepare are up. They feel a bit more involved because there is an end to the event that they bought a ticket for. It’s something that will stay next year and we will continue to monitor it."

Hearn also confirmed that the PDC had actually been expecting a decline in ticket sales with this being the first Premier League played in front of unrestricted crowds since 2019 with the Covid pandemic complications, particularly in light of the changed format and not quite knowing how fans would take to it, so the boosted numbers were an unexpected bonus on that front and with fans actually getting to see a culmination with a winner each night, and now knowing what to expect, he sees little reason as to why interest will not increase for the 2023 event.

"We budgeted for a 25 per cent reduction in ticket sales this year because of the Covid effect and also because we were taking a chance on a new format. We actually hit eight per cent over what we were previously getting. That was a very serious number that we would be mad not to take into account."

Regardless of the feedback, it does not look like darts fans can expect any major changes to the format moving forward and if numbers do continue to grow, then Hearn's faith will be justified.