Darts legend Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams blasts bungling BDO bosses for pricing out loyal fans
DARTS legend Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams reckons the BDO have priced out loyal fans by moving the world championship to London.
And bungling BDO chiefs claim players’ prize money will only go up if they sell MORE tickets!
The cash-strapped BDO world professional event started yesterday at the O2 Arena Indigo nightclub after 33 years at its spiritual home of Lakeside.
There was a decent crowd of 900 for the afternoon but figures are likely to reduce in midweek.
Unacceptably the players’ prize money has been slashed by up to 60 per cent after poor ticket sales across nine days.
Wolfie, 63, a three-time world champion, told SunSport: “I still believe the BDO can be successful. But one of the worst moves was to pull the world professional out of Lakeside and put it on at the O2.
“So many people that were regulars at Lakeside and who would save up all year to go for the whole week, they aren’t going.
“It’s a totally different environment, it’s more expensive. So a lot of people who would be there, won’t be.
“A few lads down the pub were discussing whether to go to the O2.
“But they said: ‘It’ll cost a fortune to get down. Beer, tickets and transport will be expensive. Let’s not bother’. Had it been Lakeside more would have gone.
“It would be a very sad day if it was the last BDO worlds.
“Some personalities need to move on from their current positions as they aren’t doing the BDO any good.”
BDO chairman Des Jacklin refused to confirm the prize money for first-round losers.
Jacklin claims all the men’s and women’s players have been told their minimum prize money for the event.
And he said organisers would try their best to honour last year’s prize fund.
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Yet it is understood several players are still in the dark about what they will earn from appearing in this competition.
In July, four top refs quit the BDO circuit following "continuous disagreements with head management".
And popular 'Little' Richard Ashdown walked away after 18 years as a spotter and MC for the BDO world event.
In the preliminary round, Justin Thompson smashed Scott Williams 3-0.
While in the first round, Dutchman Chris Landman hit a 170 checkout as he beat No.4 seed Dave Parletti 3-2.