Barry Hearn has been described as the ‘Alan Sugar’ of sport. As the world struggles with the recession, Hearn seems to be finding niche markets that are making him rich. He is currently the chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation but has a sports portfolio that includes snooker, ten-pin bowling, fishing, pool and poker. The one thing that ties all these sports together is they are not mass market in the sense that football is – Hearn has tapped into the niche market. Darts shops and niche sport suppliers are look set to ride the recession.

Darts Shops Beat the Gloom

Speaking in The Independent, Hearn said niche sports are the future. Darts shops could in fact be better placed than the big corporate retail outlets that try and focus on the all-popular sports. And Hearn is building something of a sporting empire out of the niche sports. He told the paper: “My timing’s always been good but I don’t know quite why…I think someone upstairs likes me. Even to the point of taking over darts six or seven years ago. Suddenly it’s become this massive business…It’s been hugely successful.”

Darts: “Recession-Proof”

The success of darts shops and the rise of the game of darts is clear for Hearn – he believes people want entertainment. Simple. And in today’s world where there are so many worries, darts shops are something of a refuge. People can buy darts supplies cheaply, it’s accessible. And watching darts has massive appeal, as Hearn said, “…people just want to have a great night out that’s not too expensive, a bit of rock ‘n’ roll. This is particularly true of darts, which seems to be the one sport that’s recession-proof.”

Darts Shops Thrive

Niche sports promoters are certainly surfing, not drowning in the economic wave. Football, as Hearn knows too well, can actually cost millions as the game has been swallowed up by the huge salaries at the top of the game. Darts still has its feet on the ground, which could explain why darts shops are still selling, even when people are pinching their pennies. Darts, and other niche sports have certainly helped make sports promoter Hearn a very rich man – when asked how rich Hearne was, someone replied: “He once wrote a cheque and the bank bounced.”

Start with the Best of British Darts

At The Best of British Darts, we’ve been championing the game for years, providing a wide range of equipment and advice to young and old darts players alike. We’re always happy to encourage new players, and we know that good maths skills are an important part of the game. If you’re interested in learning more, or taking the game up more seriously, browse through our website and buy securely online today.