The Biggest Event in Darts Sells Out Before General Sale
The 2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace has been a hot ticket this year, with tickets selling out before the general sale even began. This unprecedented demand has led to frustration and anger among fans who were unable to secure tickets.
The Record-Breaking Demand
The PDC issued a statement acknowledging the high level of interest in the tournament, stating that “more people than ever attempted to purchase tickets” with the official ticketing partner, SeeTickets, reporting numbers comparable to those for popular gigs and festivals.
The initial ticket release on Monday, July 30th, was exclusively for PDCTV annual members, and the vast majority of tickets were sold that afternoon, including nearly 40,000 tickets within 30 minutes. A small number of tickets remained for the second priority window, which opened on Tuesday for fans who registered for free priority access, but those tickets sold out quickly as well.
Fans Express Their Frustration
The overwhelming demand for tickets, coupled with the rapid sell-out, has left many fans feeling disappointed and frustrated. Fans took to social media to express their anger, with many lamenting the lack of tickets and the ease with which touts appear to have secured them.
One fan tweeted: “I genuinely think the PDC should declare all tickets sold void, and start afresh. How can genuine fans, who have paid an annual membership get no further than a black screen.”
Another commented, “Appears multiple bots got tickets over fans who fork out for a PDC membership. Utterly ridiculous.”
These sentiments were echoed by countless other fans who expressed their dissatisfaction with the ticketing process and the impact of touts on their ability to attend the tournament.
The PDC’s Response to the Resale Issue
The PDC has acknowledged the problem of ticket resale and is actively working to address it. They are implementing a process to identify and cancel tickets that have been purchased with the intention of unauthorized resale. The PDC has also stated that they urge fans to only purchase tickets from official sources, as listed on the PDC website, and that the only genuine resale market is via the SeeTickets Fan To Fan platform.
A Look Ahead: What to Expect at the 2024/25 World Darts Championship
Despite the ticketing controversy, the 2024/25 World Darts Championship promises to be a thrilling event. Luke Humphries will be looking to defend his title after his thrilling victory over Luke Littler in January's final, while other top players, including Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, and Nathan Aspinall, will be aiming to take home the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.
The tournament will be held from December 15th, 2024, to January 3rd, 2025, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The Future of Darts Ticketing
The PDC is committed to ensuring that tickets for future events are available to genuine fans. They are exploring ways to improve the ticketing process and make it more accessible to fans, while also working to combat the practice of unauthorized ticket resale.
It remains to be seen how the PDC will address these challenges in the future, but the organization is committed to finding solutions that ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all fans.
The 2024/25 World Darts Championship: A Tournament for the Ages
Despite the frustrations surrounding ticketing, the 2024/25 World Darts Championship is shaping up to be a phenomenal event. The tournament promises to showcase the best darts players in the world, providing fans with a thrilling and unforgettable experience.
The PDC is committed to making this event a success for both players and fans, and with the right measures in place, the future of darts ticketing can be one that is fair and accessible to everyone.
