Inside the £799 VIP experience at the World Darts Championship with cocktails, 180s and a lot of Donald Trump lookalikes
Share:
BARRY HEARN has hailed the darts as a place where Royalty and Premier League footballers can rub shoulders with plumbers and postmen. The PDC president said: "This is a major industry now. Over the centuries we have had in Britain a class structure which means we know our place - I never bought into that.
![[The darts is like gatecrashing 100 stag dos]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/12.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"We've transformed that now and members of the Royal Family sit down to watch darts. MPs and Premier League footballers begging for tickets to sit next to a docker or a newsagent or a busman.". Nothing sums up that clash of class and cultures quite like Pitchside's Platinum hospitality experience at this year's PDC Darts World Championships at Alexandra Palace, as I found out.
![[Celebrities have been flocking to Alexandra Palace to watch the darts, including John Bishop]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024WCR3_John-Bishop04.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
One moment I was in a swanky lounge being offered an array of cocktails and eating a delicious three course meal crafted by a twice Michelin-starred chef. Moments later I entered the main arena and felt like I'd gatecrashed 100 simultaneous stag dos. That such a VIP experience is available for darts' biggest tournament is testament to how far the sport has come.
![[Most fans turn up in fancy dress]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/general-view-fans-fancy-dress-957898915.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
In 2007, the year the sport's star boy Luke Littler was born, the Worlds were being played at the 1,100 capacity Circus Tavern in Purfleet, Essex. But Hearn could see demand was on the rise, and took the event to the 3,300 capacity Alexandra Palace. It was something of a risk, but that steady rise in interest has become an explosion over the last 12 month.
![[Donald Trump lookalikes are a major theme this year]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/general-view-fans-fancy-dress-957898910.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
