‘Price to pay’ – Darts chief Barry Hearn gives passionate defence of rowdy Alexandra Palace crowd
Barry Hearn has told darts players they will have to get used to rowdy Alexandra Palace crowds. The famous venue – where the PDC World Darts Championship has been held every year since 2008 – has become synonymous with a raucous atmosphere during the event. Ally Pally is known for it’s rowdy PDC World Darts Championship crowdGetty Some fans, though, have criticised the behaviour of other spectators at Ally Pally on Monday night where Cameron Menzies was mercilessly taunted. The Scot suffered a shock first round exit to Leonard Gates and was visibly emotional on stage as his American opponent received the backing of the crowd. Menzies, who was booed as he walked out, was subjected to ‘Scotland get battered’ songs and chants of ‘USA!’ as he fell to a 3-1 defeat. Former PDC chairman Hearn has now responded to the incident during an appearance on White & Jordan. The Matchroom Sport president told talkSPORT: “When you’re into this type of atmosphere you do tend to play a little bit of mind games from time to time. You get the crowd on your side and they are vociferous. “That generally adds a bit of pressure to get involved and it does put more and more pressure unfortunately for all the darts players. “They’ve got to get used to it because this is what darts is about. It’s a party atmosphere with a world-class sport going on at the same time. It’s a unique mixture that has made us successful. “So there’s a price to pay for everything and of course Leonard Gates was in a position that everyone loves Leonard Gates.” He then joked as he recalled the evening: “He does a little dance and blows a kiss. When was the last time you heard a UK crowd chanting ‘USA USA’? I thought I was at a Trump rally or something. “That in its own way piled more pressure on Cameron Menzies and it’s you know how do you get out? We’ve had it so many times from Peter Manley when they used to boo him to Gerwyn Price with his (ear defenders). An emotional Menzies was taunted by the crowd on Monday nightSky Menzies was visibly distraught on stage by the end of the matchPDC Anti-Scotland songs and ‘USA’ chants were heard during Menzies’ lossGetty “But you know it’s the players who have to show by their darts that they can rise above that and then silence the crowd. But last night it wasn’t Cameron Menzies and he didn’t silence the crowd.” Monday’s scenes have prompted the question of whether greater policing of the Ally Pally crowd is needed. Jim White put the question to Hearn, who explained: “The trouble is the more you try to police it the worse the crowd will become. “So actually there comes a stage where respect kicks in and trust me that crowd last night wasn’t as bad as some crowds I’ve seen. They can be really brutal but, that’s the price you pay. “The duty of care which falls on us is taken very seriously and we have experts in that field that will help players if they need it and a lot of players have needed it in the past. “There is a price for success and the price for success is if you want to compete and change your life you’re gonna have to develop, at some stage, a little bit of a crocodile skin if you like, where you’re impervious to that and whether you can sort that out. Thousands of darts fans flock to the Palace every yearGetty “I mean, Gerwyn Price turned up with a big pair of earphones on one day – the more you actually try to show that you’re dealing with it the more the crowd will get at you. It’s human nature that they love a baying dog, don’t they? “They see someone wounded, they go for the thrill because they’re creating their own spectacle. Cameron Menzies, however, is strong enough to come past that. “He’s been through it before. He’s always with his heart on his sleeve and what you saw last night was real television and real drama in the life of Cameron Menzies. “It’s a narrative that unfortunately really works for everybody other than the player that’s under the spotlight and the challenge for him is he’s got to deal with it.” Meanwhile, Gates advances to the second round once again after also doing so on debut in London two years ago. The world number 130 will face 12th seed Nathan Aspinall for a place in the third round on Wednesday night. Where to buy Luke Littler's darts range *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has released a collection with Target Darts, with prices starting at just £14.95. Choose from darts, hardware and accessories endorsed by the Grand Slam of Darts Champion 2024, or pick up The Nuke’s purple playing shirt, on the Target Darts website. Highlights include: Luke Littler brass 22g steel tip darts, £14.95 – buy here Luke Littler playing shirt, £39.95 – buy here Luke Littler 90% tungsten G1 SP darts, £99.95 – buy here Takoma Luke Litter wallet, £16.95 – buy here Luke Littler cabinet and da
Barry Hearn has told darts players they will have to get used to rowdy Alexandra Palace crowds.
The famous venue – where the PDC World Darts Championship has been held every year since 2008 – has become synonymous with a raucous atmosphere during the event.
Some fans, though, have criticised the behaviour of other spectators at Ally Pally on Monday night where Cameron Menzies was mercilessly taunted.
The Scot suffered a shock first round exit to Leonard Gates and was visibly emotional on stage as his American opponent received the backing of the crowd.
Menzies, who was booed as he walked out, was subjected to ‘Scotland get battered’ songs and chants of ‘USA!’ as he fell to a 3-1 defeat.
Former PDC chairman Hearn has now responded to the incident during an appearance on White & Jordan.
The Matchroom Sport president told talkSPORT: “When you’re into this type of atmosphere you do tend to play a little bit of mind games from time to time. You get the crowd on your side and they are vociferous.
“That generally adds a bit of pressure to get involved and it does put more and more pressure unfortunately for all the darts players.
“They’ve got to get used to it because this is what darts is about. It’s a party atmosphere with a world-class sport going on at the same time. It’s a unique mixture that has made us successful.
“So there’s a price to pay for everything and of course Leonard Gates was in a position that everyone loves Leonard Gates.”
He then joked as he recalled the evening: “He does a little dance and blows a kiss. When was the last time you heard a UK crowd chanting ‘USA USA’? I thought I was at a Trump rally or something.
“That in its own way piled more pressure on Cameron Menzies and it’s you know how do you get out? We’ve had it so many times from Peter Manley when they used to boo him to Gerwyn Price with his (ear defenders).
“But you know it’s the players who have to show by their darts that they can rise above that and then silence the crowd. But last night it wasn’t Cameron Menzies and he didn’t silence the crowd.”
Monday’s scenes have prompted the question of whether greater policing of the Ally Pally crowd is needed.
Jim White put the question to Hearn, who explained: “The trouble is the more you try to police it the worse the crowd will become.
“So actually there comes a stage where respect kicks in and trust me that crowd last night wasn’t as bad as some crowds I’ve seen. They can be really brutal but, that’s the price you pay.
“The duty of care which falls on us is taken very seriously and we have experts in that field that will help players if they need it and a lot of players have needed it in the past.
“There is a price for success and the price for success is if you want to compete and change your life you’re gonna have to develop, at some stage, a little bit of a crocodile skin if you like, where you’re impervious to that and whether you can sort that out.
“I mean, Gerwyn Price turned up with a big pair of earphones on one day – the more you actually try to show that you’re dealing with it the more the crowd will get at you. It’s human nature that they love a baying dog, don’t they?
“They see someone wounded, they go for the thrill because they’re creating their own spectacle. Cameron Menzies, however, is strong enough to come past that.
“He’s been through it before. He’s always with his heart on his sleeve and what you saw last night was real television and real drama in the life of Cameron Menzies.
“It’s a narrative that unfortunately really works for everybody other than the player that’s under the spotlight and the challenge for him is he’s got to deal with it.”
Meanwhile, Gates advances to the second round once again after also doing so on debut in London two years ago.
The world number 130 will face 12th seed Nathan Aspinall for a place in the third round on Wednesday night.
Where to buy Luke Littler's darts range
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has released a collection with Target Darts, with prices starting at just £14.95.
Choose from darts, hardware and accessories endorsed by the Grand Slam of Darts Champion 2024, or pick up The Nuke’s purple playing shirt, on the Target Darts website.
Highlights include:
