PDC CEO does not rule out Premier League night in Belgium: "But definitely not next year yet"

In recent years the Premier League Darts has added nights on the European mainland in both the Netherlands and Germany so could Belgium be next?

Darts has been on the rise in Belgium in recent years. For example, the Belgian Darts Open at the beginning of May, a tournament of the European Tour, has been sold out for months. "You know: the Premier League is something completely different from the European Tour," says ex-pro darts player and now commentator Wayne Mardle to Het Nieuwsblad.

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“It's almost like a different sport or something," Mardle continues. "This is one of the best in darts next to the world championship. There is of course a certain tradition with a number of arenas and places. But nothing is forever. Rotterdam has only been there for a few years, just like Berlin. There is always room for something new. So I see the Premier League coming to Belgium in the next three or four years. That is really a possibility.”

“Of course there is a lot going on in connection with TV rights, but if you have a player who makes the sport grow… So there is some pressure for this with Dimitri Van den Bergh. Or maybe Kim Huybrechts, when he gets back to his best level. Dimitri should reach a higher level. I know he won the Matchplay once, but after that, the big leap forward has been a bit lacking. I was also surprised by his performance in the Premier League so far. I thought he would be better,” Mardle goes on to say.

Right timing

PDC CEO Matt Porter is not ruling out a Premier League night in Belgium in the future. “When we enter a new market, it's all about the right timing. It really comes down to making the right choice at the right time. We've had the European championship in Belgium in the past and that was… okay. At the time, the best location was not immediately available for this. Now there is the European Tour and it is very successful."

"We are also aware of the 'darts boom' in Belgium, especially thanks to the successes of Dimitri Van den Bergh and the TV attention that has come. So I don't rule out a Belgian Premier League night coming up, but certainly not even next year," Porter concludes.

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