This thread is MY thoughts only as to why darts in the states have been on the decline over the past 15 years. Look at this flyer from an upcoming $20,000+ tournament. Check the payouts. Because of the high number of events the payouts are terrible!! Plus they only payout to the top 8 in most events. Awful!!! Keep in mind this tourney normally draws all the top shooters from the east coast and Canada. So we all have to fight it out for a top 8 spot. The winner only gets $500. Pathetic imo.

Look at tourney's here in the USA 20 years ago. They had a luck of the draw Friday night. Men's and woman's singles on Saturday with maybe another luck of the draw or 4 person event at night. Then men and woman's cricket singles Sunday. 5 events!!!!! Used to draw in MASSIVE number of people. Upwards of 400 to 500 people Friday night.

Today's tourneys seem like they are more geared toward the the people running the show. I'm all for making a profit, don't get me wrong. But with tournaments like this we will continue to decline. At least there are a few out there who are trying to make a difference and get darts going in the right direction like it was 20 years ago.

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Here is an event from 1987!!!! 1987 folks!!!!!

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Sad really JD. Thats why USA far,far behind. I do think we are better Cricket players only because we play it so much. Its actually shocking to see the pay outs

And I noticed Pajama darts really!! come on its a joke to me

SilverSaber wrote:

Sad really JD. Thats why USA far,far behind. I do think we are better Cricket players only because we play it so much. Its actually shocking to see the pay outs

Any time the UK guys have come over here for cricket they usually put the boots to us. Looking back on some old BEN mags they can play some cricket pretty good.

Then we just don't stand a chance really. Until some young fella who has money or gets major backing who is willing to sacrifice time and effort then its not gonna happen. I mean how many American pros are full time darters? Thats their job !! nothing else!! maybe a handful can earn a living. Big maybe! with those payouts Hell even if you won that tourney your more than likely go into the hole financially!!!!!!

SilverSaber wrote:

Another thing that bothers me! accept for a very few ,you mention Phil Taylor , Darren Young, MVG,Wade, Anderson, Barney , Jocky, Lowe and others to Americans and I get this far away look because they have nooooooo idea who these people are!!! aggravates me really

How did Darin get grouped in there?

Well I thought maybe they would know an American but alas not to be.

SilverSaber wrote:

Another thing that bothers me! accept for a very few ,you mention Phil Taylor , Darren Young, MVG,Wade, Anderson, Barney , Jocky, Lowe and others to Americans and I get this far away look because they have nooooooo idea who these people are!!! aggravates me really

Shouldn't let that bother you. We are not born with darts in our hands, just how it is.

Basketballs

I believe that the prize pool should be used only for prize money. That 20K should have gone solely to the players.

Thats the way it is here in Adelaide. The organiser dont take a cut as they all run the show voluntarily.

Jimbo21 wrote:

I believe that the prize pool should be used only for prize money. That 20K should have gone solely to the players.

Thats the way it is here in Adelaide. The organiser dont take a cut as they all run the show voluntarily.

The 20k IS the prize pool Jimbo. But for the amount of entries they get at $25 a whack they bring in WAY more than 20k.

That's fine. Profit is great. What I don't like is the massive amount of different events.

Keep it simple and have 8 events spread over the weekend with greater payouts.

That's what brought the players out 20 years ago. That's what will bring them out again.

We just do a singles comp with round robin on 4-8 boards, top 2 from each board progress.

On the Saturday, they will usually do a doubles event.

At most there will be 4 prizes. Mens singles, mens doubles, womens singles and womens doubles.

^^^ Yeah, that's perfect. Keep it simple.

Look at the Pajama event up there. $1620 total prize money gone!!!

Pajama darts, really?

Ditch that event (and a few others) and use the money for the main events.

needs more money then, but as a lot of the typical sponsors are probably sponsoring other sports then I am not sure what can be done.

SilverSaber wrote:

And I noticed Pajama darts really!! come on its a joke to me

What the hell is pajama darts? Sounds like sleep throwing!

awww ask Grip he plays it all the time I hear!

DIRTY G wrote:

SilverSaber wrote:

And I noticed Pajama darts really!! come on its a joke to me

What the hell is pajama darts? Sounds like sleep throwing!

I was wondering the same thing. lol

I could win that event, no one would want to see me in my jocks throwing darts.

See what a waste it is. If i went to that tournament and shot like crap all weekend but happened to win that one event, I'd be embarrassed to come here and tell anyone.

i'd be like... "hey guys, just won an event at a $20k tourney"

You guys... "cool JD, what ya win?"

Me... "pajama darts"

The entire forum.... " "

Got that right mate.