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FEATURE | DArTS IN ThE USA
way it brings people together, I wanted to
be part of the rebirth of darts in America.
THE PRESENT
Just like the printing press, the internet
has profoundly improved communication
and interaction in North America’s darts
community. Today, a small group of thinkers
from the US and Canada are fi nally turning
ideas into action, hoping to educate,
enlighten, and inspire the masses, challenge
the status quo, improve incentives and
competitive levels, increase entertainment
value, and spark the love of darts again.
Outside the country, other darting
nations wonder, “What’s happening in
the United States?” I can tell you what
most players tell me and what I see; it’s
disorganised and divided like medieval
kingdoms.
Despite due appreciation for decades of
national leadership and effort, the American
Darts Organisation has become a topic of
frustration for many. Top players want better
communication, organisation, and changes
to formats and ranking systems, that will
enable them to play professionally and
prepare them to challenge the best talent in
Europe.
Prize money is the main incentive, which
means we must build the fan base, rebuild
the leagues, and attract major sponsors.
The worlds of soft and steel have grown
into distinctly different branches, yet both
continue to plod along without substantial
change or growth in twenty years. And,
sadly, the vast majority of typical American
players know as little about the wide world
of darts as the world knows about them.
It’s baffl ing to fi nd people that love darts
yet ask,”Phil Taylor who?”
But, that’s where science has brought
a cure for the epidemic of darts ignorance
in North America. More than ever, people
can learn about, discuss, and enjoy the
modern sport and its history through the
internet. Grassroots promoters, leagues,
and darts organizations have learned
to communicate and promote action
through websites, blogs, and forums.
Social networks have exploded with darts
discussion groups with ever increasing
connectivity and participation. New pro
development leagues and sanctioning
bodies are marketing themselves online,
experimenting with improvements until a
brighter future for American darts is found.
And, creative new broadcasting efforts are
upping the entertainment value for fans
and players, building spectatorship and
participation.
Team USA
One interesting development in
North America is the creation of new pro
development leagues that attempt to
meet the needs of the top talent: higher
competition, longer singles formats, and
bigger payouts. One story of success is
the DartProLeague, an online association
that lets players compete from home
via webcams; an affordable form of
competition that has expanded globally.
But, more recently,
real tours and new
sanctioning bodies
have been formed
to challenge the
traditional ADO
schedule, format,
and ranking systems.
Most notable are
Major League Darts,
Dart Players New York, Pro Development
Singles League, and North American
Dart Players Association. While MLD has
grown the fastest, including local and
major events in the US and Canada, they
American players know as
little about the wide world
of darts as the world knows
about them. It’s baffl ing to
fi nd people that love darts yet
ask,”Phil Taylor who?”
John & Evan of DATW
all share a common goal to improve darts
in North America, often communicating,
coordinating, and cooperating together for
the common good.
The second intriguing development
involves technology and the innovative
new ways to follow the sport. In the
past, insatiable fans in the US could only
read about darts in forums and blogs or
see snippets of uploaded video. Now,
online streaming has made it possible for
North Americans to watch events they
otherwise couldn’t see on television. And,
podcasting is bringing darts broadcasting
to life. Two fi ne examples, Dart Talk and
Bull Shot, are online shows whose main
focus is darts in North America. A third
example, and perhaps most ambitious,
is Darts Around The World, along with
its vast content and social network, Darts
Underground. Since the fall of 2010, DATW
has interviewed world champions, pros,
players, and darts people around the
globe. They’ve also remotely broadcast
from major events, including the World
Cup, John Lowe’s Exhibition Tour, and the
Fleetwood Memorial Las Vegas Open.
12 13
Dartslive
DArTS IN ThE USA | FEATURE
Now, online streaming has made
it possible for North Americans
to watch events they otherwise
couldn’t see on television
In an entertaining and artful way, DATW
continues to draw fans to the sport,
promoting darts in North America and
worldwide.
A third infl uential development has
entered the US from Asia: DARTSLIVE.
This new soft tip organisation has already
captured a market of millions in China,
Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
The machines have integrated the powers
of the internet with the most modern
electronic darts technology. Players’ cards
insert into machines to record statistics
and player information that can be viewed
live via computers, pads, phones and any
gadget that gets online. If DARTSLIVE
captures the US soft tip market, there is
no doubt that darts in America will see
explosive growth.
THE FUTURE
In my opinion, these developments will be
three of the driving forces in North America.
At the moment, things are still confused,
but more and more people join the
conversation each day. With communication
comes knowledge, new ideas and action.
The fi nal key will be cooperation because
just like the game itself there is strength
in numbers. The Renaissance of Darts
in the New World has begun, and the
ramifi cations could be global.
THORN’S FINAL THOUgHT
There’s more to the New World of
darts than North America. I have been
to countries in Central America, the
Caribbean, and South America – like
Barbados, Costa Rica, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Brazil. These nations and
others around the Earth are ready to
be part of the Renaissance as well.
They will be the stars of Thorn Reports to
come, exclusively written for Inside Darts.
Over and double out.