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Wed Feb 10, 2016 10:13 am
Professional Darts Corporation chairman Barry Hearn says "the fans deserve" top level darts to be played in Cardiff.
The first Champions League of Darts will be broadcast live across the BBC and staged at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena between September 24-25.
The competition will feature the top eight ranked players in the world.
"We picked Cardiff because it is the fastest-selling venue we had in the Premier League," Hearn told BBC Wales Sport.
"So we thought they deserved it."
Fans deserving
Hearn says Cardiff is being rewarded for their enthusiasm in welcoming the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
"The darts is a huge deal in Wales and this was like the general election results for us," he said.
"We have 16 Premier League darts venue and always have a little race to see who sells out first.
"Cardiff has consistently won that race over the last three years, so we know there is the demand there.
"And we also know we probably don't satisfy that demand with one night a year.
"So two days, with the best eight players in the world, that's our way of saying thank you to Cardiff.
"Cardiff is a hub of sports activity. Be it darts, snooker, boxing, we love going there."
Barry Hearn and Phil Taylor
Barry Hearn presents Phil Taylor with the 2015 PDC World Darts Championships runners-up trophy
Terrestrial treat
Hearn believes staging the event on the BBC is big news for the sport.
"Being on the BBC is big news and another statement of how far the PDC has come," Hearn explained.
"The BBC has lost quite a lot of sports rights lately, understandably with the restrictions they are operating under, but it's good news they can announce a really world class sporting event for their screens.
"I'm overjoyed."
Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said: "Darts has always had wide appeal and it is great that audiences will get the chance to see all the action from the world's top players live on BBC Two and across our platforms."
The first Champions League of Darts will be broadcast live across the BBC and staged at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena between September 24-25.
The competition will feature the top eight ranked players in the world.
"We picked Cardiff because it is the fastest-selling venue we had in the Premier League," Hearn told BBC Wales Sport.
"So we thought they deserved it."
Fans deserving
Hearn says Cardiff is being rewarded for their enthusiasm in welcoming the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
"The darts is a huge deal in Wales and this was like the general election results for us," he said.
"We have 16 Premier League darts venue and always have a little race to see who sells out first.
"Cardiff has consistently won that race over the last three years, so we know there is the demand there.
"And we also know we probably don't satisfy that demand with one night a year.
"So two days, with the best eight players in the world, that's our way of saying thank you to Cardiff.
"Cardiff is a hub of sports activity. Be it darts, snooker, boxing, we love going there."
Barry Hearn and Phil Taylor
Barry Hearn presents Phil Taylor with the 2015 PDC World Darts Championships runners-up trophy
Terrestrial treat
Hearn believes staging the event on the BBC is big news for the sport.
"Being on the BBC is big news and another statement of how far the PDC has come," Hearn explained.
"The BBC has lost quite a lot of sports rights lately, understandably with the restrictions they are operating under, but it's good news they can announce a really world class sporting event for their screens.
"I'm overjoyed."
Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said: "Darts has always had wide appeal and it is great that audiences will get the chance to see all the action from the world's top players live on BBC Two and across our platforms."