The US Darts Masters is set for a major upgrade, moving from the Theater at Madison Square Garden to the venue's main arena starting in 2027. Matchroom chairman Barry Hearn announced the switch following an unprecedented surge in ticket sales, with 6,000 tickets sold on the first day alone for the upcoming edition. The current theater venue holds between 2,000 and 5,600 spectators, but the move to the main arena will accommodate around 19,500 fans, signaling darts' growing popularity in the United States.
Hearn highlighted the rapid sales as proof the sport is ready for the next step. "We went on sale in New York last week and we sold six thousand tickets on the first day at Madison Square Garden," he told talkSPORT. "Watch this space because next year we are going to come out of the theater at Madison Square Garden and we are going to go into the full arena. If you had imagined that in your dreams ten years ago, would you ever see a sold-out Madison Square Garden — arguably the most famous stadium in the world — for darts in America?"
According to Hearn, the growth is driven by the appeal of top players who connect with the public. "This sport has got personalities. I get darts players saying to me, 'I have got ideas'. These are ordinary guys who look like someone who lives around the corner to you. But they have extraordinary ability. Luke Littler, who won in Poland last night, is a great ambassador. Let's hope they all stay sensible. Darts puts a smile on my face every time."
The upcoming US Darts Masters is scheduled for June 25-26, 2026, with Luke Humphries as the defending champion after he beat Nathan Aspinall 8-6 in the final at the previous edition of this World Series event.
