Crowds In Stadiums: Darts Without Fans - Better Than Nothing?
The PDC Darts World Championship represents English stupidity perfectly. Ridiculous costumes, rowdy sing-alongs and too much beer usually create a Christmas spectacle of Englishness in Dart Mecca the “Ally Pally”. But with London’s move into tier 4, and the subsequent lockdown, the darts show quite how sport has changed.
Michael Van Gerwen goes into this year's championship, which began on 15th December, as the favourite once again. The inscrutable Dutchman has gotten used to playing in front of empty halls; nothing has fazed him from keeping his position as World number 1. Familiar names like "Big Mike's" have already thrown their way through to the fifth round, the tournament has followed the same patterns it always has. But the darts action is where the normality ends.
Darts more than any other sport is about the crowd. The atmosphere at the "Ally Pally" is legendary. For those who've never sat down for a day at the darts, the schedule runs like a stag do dream. Groups, in fancy dress, arrive in the afternoon buoyed by a morning's drinking. Each player walks out to a tune the room can all wail along to. Each 180 is greeted with cheers and chanting during the game, and at the end of each game, the winner is roared off stage. Although technically brilliant, it isn't hard to see how, as a spectacle, the darts doesn't hold the same appeal without this scene of stupidity laid out behind it.
Reigning champion Peter 'Snakebite' Wright used the 1000 fans, allowed for the first four days of the tournament, to his best effect with a flamboyant entrance. Dressed as the Grinch, he stormed out on stage to 'Don't stop the party' before comfortably beating veteran Steve West 3-1. But even the most eccentric, green-mohawked Darts player couldn't emulate the atmosphere which attracted viewing figures of over 1 million on Sky last year.
Now the tournament can't have any fans, which begs the question: Is it better to have live sport without fans than no sport? In difficult times it is essential to look for silver linings.
The issue of gender all over sport is visible in professional inequality but rooted in fan culture's dangerous masculine and heteronormative aspects. However much, I miss the rowdy stag do atmosphere of the darts. This "laddy" environment can bring about a scary atmosphere for people who don't fit within its values. Fallon Sherrock emerged as the female face of darts with the first-ever PDC world championship win by a female last year. Her presence may signify a start of a move away from the raucous masculinity and catcalling. However, a year without fans may move a new generation's minds more quickly towards the possibilities of competing and attending the darts without intimidation. Across sports, a less masculine environment could hopefully give more people the confidence to enjoy sports.
Other reasons for continuing live sport is crucial. Providing entertainment in a time of mental stress is so important for health. There is less passion without fans as the lifeless (and goalless) Manchester derby demonstrated, but we got to watch it. At least a Christmas schedule can be filled with league football, Premiership Rugby, world-class boxing and most importantly the darts. Keeping busy is essential to keep up spirits during a dire time.
When sat at home, ten beers down by midday in your fancy dress watching fat middle-aged men play a pub game, it's important to remember a simple fact: it's better than nothing
Written by Joly Cox
Hi, I'm Joly. I'm a student at the University of Bristol in my final year doing Politics. I love writing about things I love: music and it's relationship with social movements, travel and current affairs (particularly with a focus on Africa) and food (especially the teesside parmo). More than this though, my true passion is sports. Football, cricket, basketball; in fact anything athletic I love to play, watch and write about.