27 May 2024 , 16:00
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Gerwyn Price has backed Barry Hearn's suggestion of taking darts to Saudi Arabia.
The Matchroom president told the Mirror that the Saudis are "very keen" to host the sport, having already brokered successful working relationships with the Hearns in snooker and boxing. It's naturally proved controversial in the community.
But Price is a fan, taking to Instagram to share his thoughts - suggesting the World Championship would be better off in the Middle East than at Alexandra Palace. He wrote: "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.
"If you want that atmosphere there’s four months of it with the Premier League. People can still enjoy themselves without alcohol #PlayersFirst." He later commented under his own post: "Any feathers ruffled."
Gerwyn Price left red-faced after wearing ear defenders to block fans out
The Welshman often plays a pantomime villain role, especially at Ally Pally where he's relentlessly targeted by the English-heavy crowd. He won his world championship when the tournament was played behind closed doors in 2021.
For Hearn, the financial element would obviously appeal. Although he's reluctant to make the move just yet, telling us: "I have spoken to the Saudis and they were very keen. But of course there's no alcohol in Saudi. There will be quite soon, and when it does, the first event they will want to stage in Saudi will be darts."
Ally Pally is only currently contracted to host the worlds until next year. And Hearn is weighing up his options after a boom in popularity, spearheaded by 17-year-old sensation Luke Littler.
Price has backed Barry Hearn's talk of taking darts to Saudi Arabia (Getty Images)"It's a great atmosphere at Ally Pally, but well, we're looking at it," the 75-year-old said. "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.
" 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 6,000 seats. And I'd still be at Ally Pally. Or do I go somewhere else?
"Everyone will say, 'are you gonna 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."