PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter gives Premier League crowd update: "The venue are ready to go and we've got a plan in place"

As the end is potentially in sight when it comes to Coronavirus, PDC Chief Executive Matthew Porter remains hopeful that towards the back end of this year, normality can start to resume in terms of crowds.

"I think the ProTours will carry on over the summer period, obviously the World Series is delayed for another 12 months then the second half of the year is the majority of the TV events and hopefully we can start the European Tour. It's been frustrating that we haven't moved anywhere in terms of crowds, hopefully the wheels are starting turning there," said Porter to The Darts Show podcast.

Read also

Porter looks back on darts during Coronavirus pandemic: "It's been a remarkable achievement to get us to where we are now"

A concept which has worked during this era has been the series blocks for the ProTours which Porter believes will stay when the scheduling allows.

"The concept works. I think scheduling is a lot more easier than it is in normal times because it's difficult to fit them in and around normal TV events, Premier League weeks and European Tours but when there's a clear week in the calendar, it does work scheduling wise."

Return to spectators

With fans being allowed back for pilot test events including in a fellow Matchroom ran sport in snooker at the World Championship at the Crucible, the hope has always been for the Premier League Darts to have a thrilling conclusion with some fans in the venue.

"We've sort of had preliminary conversations, we know the venue are ready to go and we've got a plan in place. We just need to be told we're allowed to do it."

A main feature of this year that hasn't gone ahead as of yet has been the European Tour and he admitted that it is very much a waiting game.

"Got plenty of venues on standby, places that players are used to going to. Obviously there's different countries involved so there's different stages of restrictions there. But the position is that we are ready to go quickly as and when we can."