The crowd and venue in London

beer is bought by the pitcher full.
only whimps buy pints

Mosconi Cup has gone the same way. Get everyone drunk and mouth off the players - thats the way forward.

I would never go to a darts event again, I went to the GP in dublin in '08 and '09 but the crowds were disgraceful, there was at least 4 fights a night and hardly anyone knew the players.

I remember a bunch of twats sitting at out table saying to each other "we will bet on Walsh here & whistle this Beaton fella". Awful, AWFUL scumbags

the circus tavern... now those were the days, never to be repeated again unfortunately.

>>>Too true, that was darts with a darts audience, the BDO is still a darts audience, very well behaved. The Ally Pally is a soulless aircraft hangar full of cretins, It looks ugly as hell on TV too. The set is horrible too, all that depressing back and red. Horrible. It's gone downhill for me since they switched venue.

Barry Hearn would sell his Grandma's funeral to the highest bidder if it made him a quid extra in his pocket.

yes we know the Darts players get paid more nowadays but I'm pretty sure the crowds would still attend even if it mean't they couldn't fight and get p!ssed every session, so that wouldn't make much difference , Sky? yep pretty much guaranteed still cover the sport so as I say , money isn't an issue , they somehow have to try to get the fun and family feeling back and the scroats away.

Seriously when i watch it I could flame throw half the tw@ts shown.

i bet most of the scum that populate the pdc darts crowd couldn't give a toss kjp doesn't have a mural

Mates sister went last year on a works do. Dozen of them, all chartered accountants ffs. All got dressed up and got lashed, singing etc.

To my knowledge not a single one of them had the slightest interest in darts, and almost certainly none had heard of any of the players and didn't watch a minute of the tournament on the TV.  Why they didn't just go the pub I don't know.
Not necessarily the drunken chavs that ruin the PL, but indicative of the way the game is going.

Saw Tony Ridler win the Welsh finals of the News Of The World about 35 years ago at the old Sophia Gardens. It was packed out with a crowd of about 2.000 all in rows. The players looked like ants and seemed miles away. The crowd were well behaved, but I just did n't get iit. Who would go to any of these darting events more than once! The mind boggles.

Someone said on here a few days ago that he went to the darts, and someone he was with was genuinely surprised he was a real fan of the darts!

That's how much it's degenerated...95% just don't give a shít and are just there for the piss up!

And us proper darts fans can't get tickets (especially table tickets)

The standars usually picks up a bit after Christmas but not by much.

NG -that was me. I'm going on Weds & two of the four going have not a shred of interest in the darts. They're dead excited about going in fancy dress and getting the beers in.

Sadly they're not my tickets to re-distribute ( they invited me as they know I like the game).  Will have to bite my tongue, have a gamble & try to educate them a bit.
Not sure that Justin Pipe first up will convert them though.

Pipe first up?
That's hardly gonna convert anyone!

I'm going to the quarters and have got decent table tickets.

I only ever go with people who have a genuine interest in darts. As for fancy dress well I really don't get that to be honest. I really can't see the point of it.

I live just up the road from the 02. Each year I think about going to the premier league, but after thinking about it, I realise that it's just drunken idiots, fancy dress, expensive warm beer and to top it off, it's a fckin pony tournament as well. Worst on the calendar imo.

As much as I prefer the standard of the PDC, I respect the BDO fans more. I would love to go to the darts, but I would want to be with other interested and well behaved fans. Not drunken louts.

I've been the Premier League and I don't think I'll bother going again - if I could, I'd prefer to go to the European tournament in Germany for ALL four days...that looks a good atmosphere.

Well the Germans can hold their ale, so it should be a better atmos.

Banned_Banks
I only ever go with people who have a genuine interest in darts. As for fancy dress well I really don't get that to be honest. I really can't see the point of it.
Rate reply:


Banks, you have no control over who sits near you and will probably be surrounded by muppets and morons
Keep us informed at to how your day goes.

Dec 17, 2012 -- 12:24PM, DartsnBooze wrote:

Banned_BanksI only ever go with people who have a genuine interest in darts. As for fancy dress well I really don't get that to be honest. I really can't see the point of it.Rate reply: Banks, you have no control over who sits near you and will probably be surrounded by muppets and morons Keep us informed at to how your day goes.

The people in our section were a decent chatty bunch, had a few drinks and all loved the darts. I thoroughly enjoyed it for my first time there.

It's always going to happen when a sport becomes popular. Just like half the people who go to hose racing don't have a clue about racing. It's just a fun day out.

Dec 16, 2012 -- 9:04PM, Navel-Gazer wrote:

I've been the Premier League and I don't think I'll bother going again - if I could, I'd prefer to go to the European tournament in Germany for ALL four days...that looks a good atmosphere.

Dont want anyone to think i'm anti-english but whenever the tournament are in europe the crowds always seem to be respectful.

But I think that is more the perception in those countries, in the UK it is advertised as a drinking session, not the same in Germany or Holland, thus draws people who are genuinely interested in the sport.

you have to be a complete retard or moron to attend the world championships nowadays.

completely agree, horrendous to watch.

Ive just been asked to go on my maiden outing to live darts this Sunday. I said yes.

You contemplating what signs to hold up to the cameras Donemylot?

Yes, it will be the tips for Sunday at Sittingbourne

I'm going on Saturday afternoon, never been before.

Not sure what to expect, a few beers would be ok, a punch-up would not ?

I've been last 3/4 years, normally at quarter final stage. Always gone with a good group for mates who are into the darts. Always had a good laugh. Yeah, it's true that there are alot of chav pricks there in fancy dress etc. which isn't my thing but just let them get on with it. Last night really pissed me off though with the shouting before double shots and cheering after missed doubles. Maybe it's just me but has never seemed that bad when I've been there before..

I have been to every final at the Ally Pally (apart from last year as away on holiday) and i also went to the Circus Tavern a few times including the Barney v Taylor match RB won.

The last time i was at the Ally Pally for the Lewis v Anderson final in 2011, i was surrounded by a couple of complete knobheads/lowlifes, the sort of people you would avoid and leave if you were in the same pub as them, so as not have to speak to them etc, they had no interest in the darts just wanted to jump up to the duh duh duh tune.

I remember some retard started abusing me calling me boring and actually asked me why i bothered attending cos i wasn't getting involved standing on me seat chanting stand if you love the darts etc.

I have been to many sporting events, football, rugby, tennis, cricket and i have had people have a go at me for talking/not watching/standing up etc, but the darts is the 1st time i have had someone have a go at me for actually trying to do what a paid £75 for, to watch the game.

Going again to the final this year but got a much better table down the front so hopefully will be a better experience.

I've volunteered to drive so wont be drinking. Should make 90pc of the crowd seem even worse

The booing and shouting at missed darts is just a joke. I have no idea why the players put up with it. My guess is that it is to become a fatboys version of WWF, with heroes and villians

thats an absolute disgrace chandla1980, this is the scum this sport is attracting now due to Barry Hearns influence. If you read my story at the Grand Prix earlier in this thread you will see I was sitting with the same kind of knobheads but I never received any abuse, I hate to say this as I watch football alot but it is those crowds that are coming to the darts now.

The 'tables vs stands' chanting is verging on violence at times and if you noticed last night during the King/Whinstanly game there seemed to be some fighting and drinks thrown.

And you'd think the PDC would be doing something to stop it but it is almost encouraged, I heard that during breaks in play there is a noise meter for the tables to roar followed by the stands to see who is louder, is that true?

Sadly we have to accept that a lot of "proper" fans are likely to attend regardless but the majority are a very specific and targeted audience without whom we wouldn't see so much darts on tv, wouldn't have such good players and wouldn't have so many betting opportunities.

So think of it as the morons' chucking their cash away to be distributed among the players they ignore while also unwittingly helping the decent folk of this forum make a few quid.

Well put Silverback. I love darts but I would never ever want to go to an event. (A floor event would be different if entry was allowed). Without these clowns there wouldn't be £250k to the winner here and you wouldn't have millionaires being made from darts

I am genuinely dreading it

I am a member of the PDC website (think its £25 a year) and have been to Dublin, Livepool, Manchester and o2 PL plus World Championships a few times. With the priority tickets im normally on first few rows of tables and have always had darts fans around me

A few mates have been in stands or back of tables and have seen a few fights etc but at the front its good - people chatting darts and havign a good time

I actually think Ally Pally is a **** venue regardless of the morons who attend.

I am genuinely dreading it

You are a disgrace to the betfair forum for accepting the invite imo Donemylot

You should see the people Im going with. A mix of pro punters, lorry drivers and various ne'er do wells

Good night of darts last night (had an accumulator on all the favourites), with some close matches.

Was sat next to the guys dressed as the Queen and Prince Charles.  All pretty good natured affair, but became clear as the night wore on that a lot of people there got bored of the darts and just got lashed and interested in singing at other people in the crowd.

Other than the cold soulless nature of the venue, my only real gripe is that it's so fckg difficult to get to and from.  Depends where you live I guess, but last train from Ally Pally station was about the same time the last match started.  Meant walking 25 mins in the freezing pouring rain to Wood Green and trying to find a taxi.

you have to accept that its a pub game so the audience will resemble a pub crowd(no surprise really). on the brightside we have the best ever walk on girl to ogle

just poss hybrechts may have too much on his mind for this match  so rand may be worth a bet here.