The top 10 most iconic venues in darts: From Ally Pally to the Winter Gardens

Darts was once a humble game that began in the pubs of Britain, but it has now grown into a world-wide sport with professional tournaments that attract millions of fans.

This evolution has led to the emergence of several legendary venues that have played a crucial role in the history of darts. In this article, we take you through the ten most famous venues that host darts tournaments today.

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Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) - London

Alexandra Palace, popularly known as "Ally Pally," is today arguably the most iconic darts venue in the world. Since 2008, it has been home to the PDC World Darts Championships, the largest and most prestigious tournament in the darts world.

The historic venue, with its impressive architecture and capacity of more than 3,000 spectators, offers an unforgettable atmosphere. Fans from all over the world gather here to enjoy top darts and the festive atmosphere.

John Part became the first-ever world champion at Alexandra Palace in 2008, while Phil Taylor managed to win three of his 16 world titles there. Famous names of this era such as Adrian Lewis, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Rob Cross, Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and Luke Humphries have also won their world titles in Ally Pally.

Winter Gardens - Blackpool

The Winter Gardens in Blackpool is another legendary venue, best known as the site of the annual World Matchplay. This beautiful, historic venue offers a unique blend of glamour and intensity.

With a seating capacity of about 2,000, the crowd feels close to the action, creating an energetic atmosphere. Many top players cite the Winter Gardens as their favourite place to play darts.

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Lakeside Country Club - Frimley Green

Lakeside Country Club is inextricably linked to the BDO World Darts Championship, which was held here from 1986 to 2019. Lakeside's intimate setting, with a seating capacity of approximately 1,000, has contributed to the historic status of this tournament.

This venue is often considered the spiritual home of darts, where many legendary players began their careers. Such darts icons as Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor, John Part, Steve Beaton, Raymond van Barneveld, Andy Fordham and Martin Adams, among others, have become world champions at Lakeside.

Today, Lakeside Country Club is used as the home of the WDF World Championship. In 2024, the third edition of the WDF World Championship will be played there.

Circus Tavern - Purfleet

Before the World Darts Championship ended up in Ally Pally, the battle for the PDC world title took place at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet. This venue, with a modest capacity of 700 spectators, offered an unparalleled atmosphere where fans literally sat on the shoulders of their heroes.

The Circus Tavern is known for its intimate and intense atmosphere, and many legendary matches took place here. The most legendary match at Circus Tavern was the cracker between Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor in the 2007 World Cup final. After a sudden-death leg, Van Barneveld captured his fifth world title.

Meanwhile, the Circus Tavern has hosted the World Seniors Darts Championship for several years. Well-known and lesser-known darters over the age of 50 compete in that event.

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O2 Arena - London

The O2 Arena is a modern and prestigious venue that hosts the finals of the Premier League Darts. With a capacity of 14,000 spectators, it is one of the largest venues in the world of darts.

Every participant in the Premier League Darts eventually wants to be in the O2 Arena. After 16 weeks of play, the final night will decide who takes the Premier League title.

Ahoy - Rotterdam

Rotterdam Ahoy is home to the annual visit of the Premier League Darts in the Netherlands. This venue is one of the largest and most impressive sports arenas in Europe, with a seating capacity of 12,000.

Ahoy is known for its passionate and noisy Dutch fans, who make for a huge atmosphere in the venue during matches. The fans are mostly dressed in orange, which makes for a great picture on TV of a sea of orange people.

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Butlins Resort - Minehead

The Butlins Resort in Minehead was first introduced in 2013, where a Euro Tour tournament was played at the time. Today, the venue, with a capacity of 6,000 fans, serves as home to two major tournaments.

Every year, the UK Open and Players Championship Finals are played in Minehead. The Butlins Resort is the ideal place for fans looking for a weekend getaway. The vacation park on the English coast offers a range of accommodation options, from simple chalets to luxury apartments.

Several restaurants, bars and cafes ensure that visitors can enjoy a variety of culinary options. In addition to darts, visitors can enjoy other recreational activities such as swimming, bowling and other live entertainment.

Madison Square Garden - New York

Madison Square Garden (MSG), located in the heart of New York City, is one of the most legendary and iconic sports and entertainment venues in the world. Major events in basketball, boxing, wrestling and ice hockey have taken place here, and numerous famous artists have also performed there.

Since 2022, however, darts has also been held at Madison Square Garden. In one of the halls of this sports temple, the US Darts Masters is held every year. This tournament is part of the World Series of Darts. It is the chance for darts fans from the United States and Canada to see the best darts players in the world live at work. In 2024, the event was attended by more than 7,500 frenzied fans.

Robin Park Tennis Centre - Wigan

Many PDC darters have been here over the years. It is where many Players Championship tournaments are played each year. The Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan also used to host the Q-School, the annual event where Tour Cards are distributed. Many players started their careers in Wigan, or just saw their careers broken there.

The sports complex is part of the larger Robin Park Arena and Sports Centre. Although originally designed for tennis and other indoor sports, the Robin Park Tennis Centre has gained a prominent place in darts history.

Halle 39 - Hildesheim

We close this list with another venue that has been used for more than a decade. Halle 39 in Hildesheim was originally built as an industrial hall, but has been transformed over the years into a modern event venue

Since 2013, the Halle 39 in Hildesheim has hosted the German Darts Championship, one of the Euro Tour tournaments. Nowadays, Players Championship tournaments, Challenge Tour tournaments, Development Tour tournaments and Women's Series tournaments are also regularly played there.