While this is not a Matchroom Event, Barry Hearn is chairman of the PDC. He has transformed darts into a massive thing with betting on site for most tournaments, obviously wanting the 'fans' (aka drunken idiots) to turn up in full flow and hyped up the game with the walk-ons and some of the rivalries. Barneveld/Taylor is up there with Ali/Frazier and got so many people talking.
Darts was popular before Barry Hearn came along through, it was on the BBC for many many years. It was showcased on 'The Indoor League' before the World Championships were first played out in 1978. What Barry Hearn is took the players who had made darts what it was (Bobby George aside) and then glamorised the sport. Personally, I think its too glammed up, I cant stand the cheerleaders on stage they add absolutely no value for me. Maybe for drunken pervs they do but thats the point - the darts 'fans' can have a whale of a time.
Look how bad the Power Snooker looked with drunken yobs etc trying to turn snooker into darts? Can you imagine the fuss caused if you had the same stuff happen in pool??? You think the Mosconi Cup was bad? It would be much worse than that for sure...