16 Year Old Luke Littler to Turbo Charge World Darts. Following the World Championship final last week, the organisers and governing bodies behind the sport are targeting rapid global expansion catalysed by the ‘fairytale run of 16 year old sensation’ Luke Littler. Since Matthew Porter became chief executive of the PDC, the sport has enjoyed ‘a long period of steady growth,’ with annual prize money awarded increasing from £3m to £16m. However, there is no avoiding the fact that as a consumer sport, darts has been constrained to a mere few markets, principally the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia. As a result, it seems perfectly intuitive that the individuals at the helm of the sport would seek to capitalise on the opportunity presented by a relatable, young and impressive talent in Luke Littler. However, might the sport risk over exposing its new greatest commodity? The inclusion of Littler in next month’s Premier League of Darts has already been announced. One can only wonder if those governing the sports are risking making the excitement of Littler the norm when his uniqueness was what attracted millions to watch him last week. #sport #sports #sportsbusiness #darts
Great analysis. I think the role social media played was also fascinating, particularly TikTok. The 143% increase in viewership compared to last year's final quantifies the impact that an "online buzz" can create for a sport.
Very interesting 👍
Interesting read and great analysis!
University College London | BSc Statistics
9moSome interesting insights here. I completely agree that young talents like Littler are driving modern day sports especially in sports that receive a lot coverage. It’s just a matter of time darts grows in popularity around the world. Social media has also attracted a much younger audience to such sports.