Express & Star comment: Grand Slam of Darts is great for Wolverhampton
The Grand Slam of Darts has undoubtedly been a good thing for Wolverhampton and the wider region.
The annual event brings thousands of visitors to the city, boosting the economy, filling its hotels and pubs, and bringing something of a feel-good factor for nine days every November.
There was little doubt that the city council faced a huge challenge when it became clear the Civic halls refurbishment had gone very wrong.
Finding a suitable replacement venue was never going to be easy, and news that ticket sales are down this year is slightly disappointing – if not entirely surprising.
However, as readers will see in today’s Express & Star, Aldersley Leisure Village looks fantastic as the final preparations are made for the start of the action tomorrow afternoon.
There will be a time and a place for a full examination of what went wrong with the Civic halls, but that time is not now.
Wolverhampton needs to come together and support this fantastic event that first graced the city in 2007.
There has been some incredible action over the years, with highlights including the classic 2012 final between Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen.
Over the last three years van Gerwen has dominated the competition, and the Green Machine is back in the city to defend his title.
For many people, it is a source of great pride that this top level event takes place in the Black Country.
The city council deserves credit for building up a strong relationship with the organisers.
Now it is down to the people of the region to support the event where it counts by turning up to see the action unfold.
As anyone who has ever been to see the Grand Slam of Darts will tell you, it is a great family event and a cracking day out.
With so much going right for Wolverhampton at the moment, it is vital we all do our bit to keep this major event in the city.
Plenty of other towns and cities around the country will be looking on with envy when the action starts tomorrow.
Let’s make sure the organisers are left in no doubt that Wolverhampton is the competition’s spiritual home.
