Michael van Gerwen happy for World Darts Championship to move to Saudi Arabia
Michael van Gerwen happy for World Darts Championship to move to Saudi Arabia
Michael van Gerwen is open to World Championship ideas
Michael van Gerwen has joined Gerwyn Price in backing the idea of the World Darts Championship moving from London to Saudi Arabia.
Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn has touted the possibility of a move from Alexandra Palace to the kingdom after revealing Saudi Arabian interest in hosting the biggest event in darts.
Hearn has pointed out that it is not a realistic option until Saudi Arabia begin allowing alcohol consumption at events, but when their regulations change then it will be very much on the table.
Three-time world champion MVG would have no issue with the move, impressed with what he has seen Saudi Arabia produce in boxing and football recently.
‘[It] will be great, I think,’ Van Gerwen told the Daily Mail. ‘They want to make sports big in that country. You saw the big boxing games there, the football there. For me, I don’t mind where I play. I will be competing, and that’s how it is.’
Hearn told the Mirror: ‘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.’
Barry Hearn says Saudi Arabia is not ready for the darts yet (Picture: Getty Images)
The veteran promoter claims he ‘could sell a quarter of a million seats for the World Championship’ when he currently sells 90,000, which will inevitably mean change, whether that is into a bigger space at Alexandra Palace or elsewhere.
‘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,’ he said.
‘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.’
Gerwyn Price is keen for a quieter atmosphere for teh World Championship (Picture: Getty Images)
World number four Price doesn’t mind the idea of a move to Saudi Arabia, saying he likes the idea of a less rowdy crowd to play in front of.
‘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,’ Price wrote on Instagram.
