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Not Your Average Bear
(Or Tournament… Or, Um … Ticket Prices!)
By F. M. Harris / Bull’s-Eye News Editorial
February 26, 2006
For those of you that are old enough to remember the Hanna-Barbera cartoon “Yogi Bear” from the 1960’s (Unfortunately, I do qualify.), you’ll immediately recall that Yogi was simply not your average bear. He was always smarter than that pesky Ranger Smith; always ate better than your average bear (Usually right from a pilfered pic-a-nic basket.); and always set a frighteningly high comedic standard for his side-kick “Boo Boo” to try and live up to. (A fact that I’m sure Boo Boo expounded upon during many years of therapy following the show’s conclusion.)
But “what” you’re probably asking yourself (besides my meandering down memory lane for a moment) does this old cartoon have to do with the World Series of Darts?
Simply this…
Since tickets where released for sale last week for the WSOD event, we have received all manner of emails and calls expressing varying degrees of concern over the higher-than-usual ticket prices for this multi-session, two-day event. The comments have ranged from “Damn the cost, we’re going anyway!” with a sort of gleeful acceptance, to “You’ve got to be kidding me!” tirades containing more than a hint of outright, deeply wounded denial. Regardless of which side of the line our responding readers came down on, there was certainly no shortage of energized opinions on this matter.
Then, as I was tapping out one of the many obligatory (but ever thoughtful) responses this kind of e-mail generally requires, from out of nowhere it hit me: Yogi Bear… He was not your average bear! And the World Series of Darts is decidedly NOT your average tournament!
“Bear” with me a second, and hear me out.
Sure, ninety bucks is a lot of money to shell out to be a spectator at a traditional darts event. (That’s about the total amount buying tickets for all five sessions will set you back if you want to attend all the events on both days of competition.) But then, we’re not really talking about a “traditional” darts event here, are we? Let’s consider some facts:
First, the World Series of Darts is the first ever darts tournament to garner the attention of the national media here in North America; namely ESPN, who —as if you didn’t already know— is covering the event from end-to-end (including highlights from each and every regional qualifier). It will then be broadcast in eight, special one-hour, prime-time episodes beginning this July. This series of programs will be seen by —no joke— millions of ESPN viewers! And, in point of fact, this is also the very first time any major darting event of any kind will have been produced specifically for an American TV audience. So arguably, we’re dealing with darts history in the making here. Nope, this is not your average tournament Boo Boo…
Next, if someone had told you even six months ago that someone (anyone, anywhere) would ever have an opportunity to win a million dollars playing darts, would you have believed them? I’m guessing not. Yet, the WSOD is providing that very chance for someone here in the states! Decidely not your average picnic basket prize…
Still need convincing? Let’s consider the unique way in which this event has been structured, with its free regional qualifying events and its eleventh-hour Friday Night Madness qualifier. As a result, at least a few amateur players —relative unknowns on the tournament circuit— are about to find themselves on the world stage, competing against some of the best players on the planet. Has that ever happened before?
The answer is no! Events of this caliber (and usually at just a fraction of the huge prize purse offered here) have always resided squarely —and unreachably for most— in the pro or semi-pro players’ corners. Hundreds of hours of qualifying play, thousands of miles of travel, and hundreds of dollars in expenses have always been required in the past to even think about having a shot like this. (Just ask Johnny Kuczynski, or Darin Young, or Ray Carver; they’ll tell you what it really takes to get on stage!) Yet, here we are. For many of the U.S. players that will find themselves in the thick of it that weekend, this will —unquestionably— represent the opportunity of a lifetime!
Already two old time players, both long away from the regular tournament circuit, have emerged on top of the more obvious, younger favorites to lock in their positions on stage and in the annals of darts history. Who will be next? It could easily be you! One thing’s for sure, the competition on stage at the Mohegan is going to be rife with action and no small measure of high-drama and surprises. Not your average campers here either, huh, Boo Boo…
So, considering all of these ground-breaking firsts, these significant departures from the “traditional” darts events of the past, should it really (I mean really!) be that surprising to anyone that attending this event is going to cost a bit more than other dart tournaments? And when you really think about it, is it even fair to compare this event to dart tournaments B.C. (Before Connecticut)? With its million-dollar stakes, prime-time TV coverage and ground-breaking action, shouldn’t we be drawing other more contemporary comparisons anyway?
Have you been to a concert or stage play lately? How about just going out with your significant other for a nice steak dinner and a movie? I’m sure you already know where I’m going with this, don’t you?
The last time I checked, seats on the main floor of most concerts (for most any band), or seats in the non-nose bleed section of almost any theater (for almost any play or musical that’s passing itself off as entertainment) have been hovering right around $100 a pop for years now. And the last time I took my wife out, (which granted, if you asked her, she’ll tell you was far too long ago) that dinner and a movie carried a price tag of well over a hundred bucks with the requisite add-ons: popcorn, drinks and dessert. In each of these cases, we’re only talking about a single evening out.
Tell me again what a weekend-long, first-ever event, including prime-time TV coverage from ESPN, a luxury resort, a million-dollar prize and over 16 hours of world-class, darts competition should cost?
Television changes everything ladies and gentleman. (Read: Big MONEY changes everything.) Prime time television begets big audiences; Big viewership begets big sponsors; and big sponsors have deep pockets! (That, not coincidently, also means that players will be-gettin’ more money! ;-)
While some of these growing pains will unquestionably result in frustrating changes to the darts landscape (like increased ticket prices, increased competition, and scarce seating at major events), the 2006 World Series of Darts event also signals —overwhelmingly— a positive change for darts. Not the least of which, is the now burgeoning and long overdue air of legitimacy our sport so richly deserves!
I rest my case. Yogi was not your average bear… And this is not your average event!
Welcome to JellyStone National Park kids! Smile. Break out the plastic. Buy the tickets. Enjoy the show. You’ll be glad you where there when…
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