Express & Star

GALLERY: Venue change a success at Grand Slam of Darts

The curtain has come down on the most successful Grand Slam of Darts that Wolverhampton has ever seen.

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Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts

There were fears that a change of venue could hamper the success of the popular tournament.

But the move from the Civic Hall to the larger venue, Alderlsey Leisure Village, seems to have had a positive impact.

Saturday night saw the biggest ever audience for a single session as more than 1,700 watched the best darts players in the world in action – beating the previous record of 1,200 punters on one night at the Civic.

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Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson
Fans at Aldersley Stadium with the Grand Slam of Darts
Fans at Aldersley Stadium

As millions of people tuned in across the world, many thousands turned out to watch the 32-player nine-day tournament. There was also greater worldwide exposure than ever with over 130 countries across every continent broadcasting the event.

National Express shuttle buses, specifically numbered 180, were used by hundreds of fans to travel from the city centre to the venue and back.

Wolverhampton Council was forced to move the event to Aldersley after refurbishment work on the Civic uncovered significant defects. It will be shut until 2020.

Positive feedback

Professional Darts Corporation Chief Executive Matthew Porter added: “The positive feedback on the new venue has surpassed our expectations – the fans are enjoying it.

“We’ve worked hard with City of Wolverhampton Council in the build-up to the tournament and it’s been great.

“It was superb to see so many fans enjoying the action.”

Councillor John Reynolds, the council's cabinet member for city economy, said: “The customer feedback from the fans has been great, with people enjoying the bigger venue, the atmosphere and enjoying what our city has to offer.”

A council spokesman added: “Councillors were determined to keep the Grand Slam of Darts in our city so it continues to support jobs and the local economy. Failing to act would have meant losing out to another city.”

Despite the tournament being hailed a huge success, it was not without a little controversy with a spat between Gary Anderson and Wesley Harms hitting the headlines.

Dutchman Harms was knocked out by World Number Four Anderson on Thursday but blamed his performance on Anderson ‘farting’.

The claim was rejected by Anderson who blamed Harms for the ‘rotten eggs’ smell.

A number of comedy events have also been switched to Alderlsey including Joe Lycett on November 26.