Former darts world champion Gerwyn Price has revealed he is in favour of the World Championship moving to Saudi Arabia.
The Gulf State has played host to a number of major sporting events in recent years, including LIV Golf, the Spanish Super Cup and a number of big boxing events.
The lucrative deals on offer mean sports are keen to work with the country, and the Hearn’s involvement in both boxing and darts could result in the sport following suit in the near future.
Former PDC chief Barry Hearn, who is also president of Matchroom, has previously suggested that the sport could move over to the Middle East for some of its events, suggesting it’s something that could be on the cards.
Price, who has often been the pantomime villain during parts matches, echoed his former boss’ views, calling for the jump to be made for the biggest event in the sport.
Gerwyn Price has revealed that he is in favour of the World Darts Championship moving to Saudi Arabia
The Gulf State has become a hub for a number of high-profile sporting events, including boxing and golf
Matchroom boss and former PDC president Barry Hearn has suggested darts in the country is not far away
‘Maybe it’s the way forward, less drunken hooligans that aren’t fans, causing fights, that turn up once in a blue moon and spoil/dictates the outcome of the game in what’s the most important event of the year for the players,’ Price argued on Instagram.
‘If you want that atmosphere there’s four months of it with the Premier League. People can still enjoy themselves without alcohol.’
Hearn, speaking to The Mirror, suggested darts should look to make the World Championship ‘bigger’.
He has an eye on Saudi Arabia, who he admitted aren’t yet ready to host darts, but will be in the future.
‘I have spoken to the Saudis and they were very keen. But of course there’s no alcohol in Saudi, he said. ‘There will be quite soon. And when it does, the first event they will want to stage in Saudi will be darts.
‘It’s a great atmosphere at Ally Pally, but well, we’re looking at it. And we’re going to be very adventurous because we have tremendous demands all around the world for people that want to play in the World Darts Championship from different countries.
‘So we’ve got to start looking at making the World Championship bigger. If I went from 96 players to 128 for example, which I can easily do in a heartbeat, it brings in a lot more TV money from different countries. And from the fans point of view, it gives me an extra 25,000 seats. Still nowhere near enough. I could sell a quarter of a million seats for the world championship. I sell 90,000.
‘Do I go into the big hall? I think there’s a lot of work, but that would give me 6000 seats. And I’d still be at Ally Pally. Or do I go somewhere else Everyone will say, “Are you going to take it to Saudi?” Well, no, don’t be silly. They’re not ready yet, But they won’t be far along. They won’t allow alcohol and the essence of darts is it’s party time, isn’t it? It’s fun as well as great sport.’
Price suggested the Premier League has ‘four months’ of drunken hooligans that aren’t fans, causing fights, that turn up once in a blue moon’
He has had a number of run-ins with fans, including wearing ear defenders during the 2022 World Championship
Price, who was knocked out in the group stage of the Luke Littler-won Premier League, has had a number of run-ins with crowds at darts events.
He is regularly booed to the stage, with fans sometimes jeering him when he is left on a double to finish a game.
In 2022 during his World Championship quarter-final defeat by Gabriel Clemens, the Welshman emerged from a break wearing ear defenders due to the crowd getting on his back.
He was banned from doing so after, admitted he would have to ‘grin and bear’ whatever was aimed his way in response.
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