PISTOL PALACE
Darts could LEAVE Ally Pally in hugely controversial move as Barry Hearn considers other options
And another iconic UK sporting venue has already been put on notice
BARRY HEARN has confirmed that he is not against moving the PDC World Darts Championship to Saudi Arabia from the iconic Alexandra Palace.
The Matchroom boss recently put snooker fans on notice that the World Championship could be relocating from the Crucible.
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The 75-year-old Matchroom chief wants a new 3,000-seat venue from Sheffield City Council.
The current deal with the legendary Crucible, which first hosted it in 1977, ends in 2027.
And the Steel City may lose the event unless without a significant upgrade.
Now Hearn has set the darts world into frenzy by revealing that Ally Pally’s status may be under threat.
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He made the revelation during a candid interview on talkSPORT where he reiterated his stance on the Crucible.
Then, when quizzed about the possibility of the darts championship following suit and potentially heading to Saudi Arabia, he said: “Of course, every second of my life.”
He was then asked about the Christmas tradition of darts at Ally Pally, the stage where Luke Littler burst onto the scene last time out.
And he bluntly replied: “Go to Riyadh, we'll come back to Ally Pally for something else.
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“I'm being facetious. What I'm saying is, 'live in the real world'.
“My employers are the sportsmen and women we promote.
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“I have the top players in snooker saying, 'We don't want to leave the Crucible because of the history'.
“But if I made the prize five times what it is now, everyone single one would go.
“Of course, the fans are important. You can organise the fans. It doesn't have to be the same event. The world's your oyster.”
Refering back to the snooker, he added: “The traditionalists who buy tickets to my events, are five per cent.
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“The casual people are 95 per cent.
“My 95 per cent want to have an uncomplicated experience watching the best in the world.
“Traditionalists would stay at the Crucible even if there was just one other person in the audience.”
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age - smashing records along the way.
He has since joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he's even the face of a brand new cereal.
Check out all of our Luke Littler stories here.
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