HEARN REVEALS MSG ARENA SWITCH FOR US MASTERS
23/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
BARRY HEARN has revealed the US Masters will move into the full Madison Square Garden arena next year.
The US Darts Masters is currently staged inside the Theater at Madison Square Garden, which has a capacity of between 2,000 and 5,600.
Matchroom president Barry Hearn revealed that 6,000 tickets were snapped up on the opening day of sales for the World Series event.
From 2027, the event will switch to the main arena, which holds around 19,500 fans.
Hearn says the numbers prove darts is ready to go bigger in the United States.
He told talkSPORT: “We went on sale in New York last week and we sold six thousand tickets on the first day at Madison Square Garden.
“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?
“The answer is it’s coming. 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.”
World No.2 Luke Humphries is the defending champion and begins his quest to retain on June 25-26.
