We’re heading into the business end of the darting season, and the majors are about to start coming thick and fast.
The World Grand Prix gets underway this weekend, while the Grand Slam, European Championships and Players Championship Finals aren’t far away either.
The World Championships close out the year, and there’s been a lot of chat recently about the tickets heading into the showpiece event at Alexandra Palace.
Both Matt Porter and Barry Hearn have discussed the unprecedented demand for tickets heading into this year’s tournament, and it’s not just the World Championships tickets that are selling like hot cakes.
Speaking on the Love The Darts Podcast, Emma Paton has been discussing the upcoming World Grand Prix, and she says that Matt Porter has told her that the demand for tickets for this tournament in Leicester has also been unbelievable.
Porter says that the PDC have sold more tickets than usual, and that’s down to the presence of Luke Littler.
Luke Littler is selling tickets
Paton shared what she was told about Littler’s box office appeal before the World Grand Prix.
“It’s not just the Worlds. I was speaking to Matt Porter a few weeks ago, and he said tickets for the World Grand Prix for example. Historically the first few days are quite quiet in Leicester, but they have sold so many more tickets, and that’s kind of all down to Littler,” Paton said.
Luke Littler needs to make a run
Luke Littler is shifting tickets for these events in a way a prime Phil Taylor never did, but he needs to start performing.
The Nuke had a similar effect on the World Matchplay earlier this year, but a first round exit left many punters frustrated that they wouldn’t be able to watch their favourite player in action.
Littler has had an incredible year, winning the Premier League, dominating on the Euro Tour, and recently winning the World Series Finals.
However, in the eyes of the casual darts fan, these Sky Sports events are what matters most, and it’s been a little while since Littler made a serious splash in one of these tournaments after being beaten by Michael van Gerwen at the World Matchplay.
Littler faces Rob Cross in his opening game at the World Grand Prix, and that is by no means an easy match up.