[Other Sport] WDF Darts

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seagull1970

New member
Apr 7, 2019
41
Yeah it is sad. And yes i hate that fancy dress side of the darts. In Phil Taylor's final season, when they had the Premier League at the Brighton Centre, there was a guy dressed as Freddie Mercury near me who didn't look forward at the stage once during the entire event. The greatest player of all time making his final appearance in Brighton, and this guy didn't even watch it, he preferred to drunkenly stare at the back of the centre and chant at the people in the seats. Still annoys me.

Yeah that kind of thing does my head in, “stand up if you love the darts” while not even looking at the game going on. It’s pathetic.
 




dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
56,030
Burgess Hill
Yeah that kind of thing does my head in, “stand up if you love the darts” while not even looking at the game going on. It’s pathetic.

It’s gone beyond the sport though hasn’t it.....it’s just a night out for a large % of those present. T20 cricket is going the same way - loads just using it as an excuse for a beery night out and barely watch any of it. Not going to change as this is what’s selling it........
 




jimhigham

Je Suis Rhino
Apr 25, 2009
8,126
Woking
The last time I went was about four years back and the spectators had all been corralled into the central tables to be in line of sight of the cameras. It couldn't have been more than a third full and I think the problem has only become worse since then. It's such a shame. I used to go to the Lakeside most years around the turn of the millennium and it used to be full to the rafters. It definitely needs Hearn to buy in and reinvigorate it.
 


Braggfan

In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded
May 12, 2014
1,998
It’s gone beyond the sport though hasn’t it.....it’s just a night out for a large % of those present. T20 cricket is going the same way - loads just using it as an excuse for a beery night out and barely watch any of it. Not going to change as this is what’s selling it........

It's sad that both darts and T20 have to go down that route, but it gets bums on seats, which brings in the money, which pays the players and keeps the whole thing going.
I remember being at the T20 a few years back, and there was an opposition fan sat nearby with his wife and kids. The guy loudly cheered his team when they hit a couple of sixes, it was perfectly normal and there was nothing antagonistic or confrontational about it, but some drunk morons next to me started abusing him, calling him a c*nt in front of his family. When he said something back at them, not swearing but something along the lines of it being out of order because he was with his family, they started getting aggressive and offering him out. It was genuinely a horrible horrible experience, and basically put me off going to T20 again.
 




ManOfSussex

We wunt be druv
Apr 11, 2016
15,253
Rape of Hastings, Sussex










Frutos

.
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
May 3, 2006
36,400
Northumberland
WDF Championships on from the Lakeside now, live on YouTube.

Standard isn't wonderful and most of what crowd there is seem to be talking amongst themselves a lot of the time, but great from a nostalgia POV to see 70-year-old Paul Lim reach the QFs last night.
 
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Lenny Rider

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2010
6,087
WDF Championships on from the Lakeside now, live on YouTube.

Standard isn't wonderful and most of what crowd there is seem to be talking amongst themselves a lot of the time, but great from a nostalgia POV to see 70-year-old Paul Lim reach the QFs last night.
Had some great nights there back in the day working for SCR, as you say it was a thing of it’s time, and even after the 93 split still was credible for a decade or so afterwards.

Love him or loathe him Barry Hearn ended up structuring the PDC to dictate it was the only place people who wanted to make a sustainable living from the sport could play.

I believe the Lakeside is nearly sold out this weekend, so almost akin to the F A Vase final, those who want to enjoy that level will.
 








Kuipers Supporters Club

Well-known member
Feb 10, 2009
5,781
GOSBTS
Had some great nights there back in the day working for SCR, as you say it was a thing of it’s time, and even after the 93 split still was credible for a decade or so afterwards.

Love him or loathe him Barry Hearn ended up structuring the PDC to dictate it was the only place people who wanted to make a sustainable living from the sport could play.

I believe the Lakeside is nearly sold out this weekend, so almost akin to the F A Vase final, those who want to enjoy that level will.
Brilliant. Much better than when the trialled the 02? Arena. That was dreadful and really the end for the BDO.

Is this on the TV?
 








Frutos

.
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
May 3, 2006
36,400
Northumberland
Lim currently 3-0 up (first to 5) in his semi-final.
 


Frutos

.
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
May 3, 2006
36,400
Northumberland
70 years old and Lim makes the Lakeside final 5-0.
 




Braggfan

In the beginning there was nothing, which exploded
May 12, 2014
1,998
Love him or loathe him Barry Hearn ended up structuring the PDC to dictate it was the only place people who wanted to make a sustainable living from the sport could play.
The PDC was the only place to make a substantial living, but I don't think that's because Hearn dictated or structured it that way. The PDC were just very efficient at modernising darts.
The BDO were very stuck in their ways, resistant and hesitant to change. Former head of the BDO, Olly Croft, famously said the BDO didn't owe anyone a living.
There was obviously a need and a market for players who wanted to make a living out of darts. The PDC just provided that, while the BDO resisted it.
I think by the time the BDO realised they were in trouble it was too late, because the PDC had become such a polished product that it far surpassed them.
 


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