Barry Hearn, the driving force behind the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), envisions a future of unprecedented growth and transformation for the World Darts Championship. Hearn, who has overseen the sport’s remarkable rise since assuming the chairmanship in 2001, sees complacency as the enemy and aims to capitalize on the surging popularity of darts, fueled by record viewership and captivating storylines like the “Greatest Leg of Darts” and the emergence of young prodigy Luke Littler. His ambitious plans include expanding the tournament field, increasing the winner’s prize money, and potentially relocating the event to a larger venue, all designed to elevate the championship to new heights of global prominence.
Hearn’s immediate goal is to expand the World Championship from 96 to 128 players, a move that reflects the growing international appeal of darts and the increasing number of nations seeking representation on the world stage. This expansion will necessitate a longer tournament schedule, adding eight more sessions and four extra days to the already demanding 16-day event. Hearn also favors implementing a Wimbledon-style flat draw, where all players, including seeded favorites, compete from the first round, ensuring a more competitive and unpredictable tournament from the outset. This change aims to address the growing global interest and provide more opportunities for international players to showcase their skills.
Central to Hearn’s vision is a significant increase in prize money, with the winner’s purse potentially doubling from £500,000 to £1 million. This substantial boost reflects the soaring commercial value of darts and the sport’s ability to command large audiences. Hearn acknowledges the sport’s rapid global expansion and the resulting pressure to reward players with more lucrative prizes. While acknowledging the current disparity between darts and golf prize money, Hearn firmly believes that darts has the potential to bridge the gap in the near future, considering its burgeoning global viewership. He anticipates raising the total annual prize money from £20 million to between £20-40 million within the next three to four years.
The future broadcast home of the World Darts Championship is also under consideration. While Sky Sports currently holds the broadcast rights for five major PDC events, including the Worlds and Premier League, Hearn is open to exploring alternative platforms like Discovery+ or DAZN when the current deal expires. This strategic maneuver underscores Hearn’s commitment to maximizing the sport’s reach and securing the most lucrative broadcast agreements. The record-breaking viewership numbers for the 2024 World Championship final, which saw Luke Humphries defeat Luke Littler, have further strengthened Hearn’s negotiating position. He emphasizes the significant doubling of viewership throughout the year, largely attributed to the Luke Littler phenomenon, as a key factor in upcoming broadcast negotiations.
Beyond prize money and broadcasting, Hearn is also contemplating a change of venue for the World Championship. While acknowledging the iconic status of Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally), where the tournament has been held since 2008, Hearn recognizes the limitations of the 3,300-capacity venue. He is exploring larger London venues such as Olympia or ExCeL, which could accommodate significantly more spectators, increasing revenue and satisfying the growing demand for tickets. Hearn emphasizes the unique advantage darts has in its seating configuration, with the majority allocated to general admission and a smaller portion reserved for hospitality and guests. This allows for flexibility in maximizing seating capacity in larger venues and enhancing the spectator experience.
Hearn’s ambitious plans for the future of the World Darts Championship demonstrate his unwavering belief in the sport’s continued growth and potential. By expanding the tournament, increasing prize money, exploring new broadcast opportunities, and considering a larger venue, Hearn aims to consolidate darts’ position as a major global sport, attracting new audiences and rewarding players for their skill and dedication. He is confident that these strategic moves will further elevate the prestige of the World Championship and cement its place as one of the most exciting and popular sporting events on the global calendar.
