Sport: Jersey Festival of Darts in doubt

Last week’s successful event, which concluded on Saturday evening having began on Thursday at the Royal Hotel, may well be the last, despite the promoter saying that it has contributed massively to Jersey’s economy over the past 30 years.

The Festival, resurrected in November 2012, has re-established itself as one of the most eagerly-anticipated events in the British Darts Organisation’s diary, but it is being threatened again as the Tourism Development Fund grant received for the first time last year, will not be renewed because of the current financial difficulties facing the States of Jersey.

JFD promoter Howard Miller: “Last year Jersey Tourism granted us just under £5,000 and they would have had excellent value from that … finals night was televised on Eurosport and viewing numbers were around the three million mark. I accept that times are tight so it’s not easy, but I’m surprised that they’ve turned their backs on us.”

Promoter Howard Miller said: ‘Darts in Jersey is booming, the JDO team recently returned from the World Cup in Turkey and the Jersey Festival is now the most important date in their diaries.

‘The Festival takes place on the Island and the logistics of getting all the equipment over is a huge and very expensive task.

‘We’re extremely grateful to Condor for their support but with the refusal from Jersey Tourism to renew the Tourism Development Fund grant they gave us for the first time last year, only a post festival examination of the finances will determine if we can afford for it to continue.

‘If the books say no then without help this could be the last year and darts enthusiasts, not just from across Europe but more relevantly those in Jersey, will be truly gutted.

‘We have running costs of getting a lorry load of equipment to Jersey and seven or eight staff.

‘Last year Jersey Tourism granted us just under £5,000 and they would have had excellent value from that because finals night was televised on Eurosport and viewing numbers were reported to be around the three million mark.

‘I accept that times are tight so it’s not easy, but with all that publicity I’m really surprised that they’ve now turned their backs on us.

‘This is sport tourism and of great value to the Island and over 30 years there will have been a huge number of bed nights taken up and then you have the daily spend of the participants on top of that.

‘I will be contacting Tourism to see if we can get something arranged, but if the maths doesn’t add up then it could be the end.

‘Festival entries and the number of people who attend increases every year and I really hope that we can get the financial backing for it to continue.’

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