https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... s-34614563

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-le ... s-34614563

Jumping on the fame train, clever marketing really. And i bet Littler will be buzzing with this, good on him

Well, making the most of the Luke Littler connection is as much of an open goal as you are ever going to get in terms of marketing and publicity, so we'd be daft not to. If it helps to enhance a feelgood factor around the place and get more people interested or aware, then it's all good.

Indeed, 'the Darts' and Luke Littler in particular are riding on the crest of a wave.



I caught the end of a Barry Hearn interview on the wireless and a new TV detail is set to be or has been announced £125m with Sky TV!!! Although I'm not sure of the terms/length of deal.



In brief, our Luke got a mention and Hearn said the viewing figures, due to his marketing and connecting the audience with personalities, warrant the cash in comparison to say Golf, where viewing figures are comparatively low all be it, it's a sport with access to the 'filthy lucre' sponsors and viewers.



It certainly puts RL in its place and not in a good way.

Rugby League managed to secure £21m from Sky for 2024, HALF of the £40m in 2021.



The Hearns have managed to DOUBLE the Sky darts deal to £25m for 5 years.



The RFL turned down involvement from the Hearns.

A great bit of inexpensive marketing, well done Wire. Naming a stadium for the day for respective local celebrities will put more income in the clubs coffers.



I doubt the 'Kevin Webster stadium' would go well for Salford though

Quite an underperformance by the RL 'powers that be' putting it politely. Although, are we 100% sure that the Hearns were turned down rather than they walked or were being unreasonable? With our sports past record, it's an easy assumption to make that they messed up.



However, one thing stuck in my mind on the Darts SKY Documentary preview and that was Barry could "smell the money", maybe he could only smell mushy peas when it came to RL and organising team sports with owners many of whom could be said to have egos isn't quite as straightforward as dealing with individuals in the darts, snooker and boxing world.



Perhaps, it was all a dream, romantic wishful thinking

A very good BBC Sport article here about 'Littlermania' and the surge of interest in 'the darts': https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/articles/crmzy2ye18no Some of the numbers are pretty eye-watering, but darts is one of those sports that seems to have had ebbs and flows in popularity over the years, probably depending on the personalities involved at the time. It's certainly all the rage at the moment, though, so it's good if RL (and Wire in particular) can ride on its coat-tails for a while.

A very good BBC Sport article here about 'Littlermania' and the surge of interest in 'the darts': https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/articles/crmzy2ye18no Some of the numbers are pretty eye-watering, but darts is one of those sports that seems to have had ebbs and flows in popularity over the years, probably depending on the personalities involved at the time. It's certainly all the rage at the moment, though, so it's good if RL (and Wire in particular) can ride on its coat-tails for a while.

Not for me, this. Another Karl gimmick. Get him out on the pitch before hand with the trophy but renaming the stadium for one night only? Woke nonsense.

As far as I know the Hearns were asked to come on board and take on an 'event', think it was the Challenge Cup and / or the Magic Weekend. They turned this down and said the only way they would get involved is if they had complete control over the sport - I can't see how doing that would be a good idea irrespective to what has happened to darts, but its all opinions at the end of the day.



We absolutely should be looking at ways to push certain players in to the mainstream where we can to push the sport forward - easier said than done I guess...



I think the stadium rename stays just about on the right side of cringe for me, helped by the fact Littler clearly is such a big Wire fan.

Quote Alffi_7="Alffi_7"As far as I know the Hearns were asked to come on board and take on an 'event', think it was the Challenge Cup and / or the Magic Weekend. They turned this down and said the only way they would get involved is if they had complete control over the sport - I can't see how doing that would be a good idea irrespective to what has happened to darts, but its all opinions at the end of the day. We absolutely should be looking at ways to push certain players in to the mainstream where we can to push the sport forward - easier said than done I guess... I think the stadium rename stays just about on the right side of cringe for me, helped by the fact Littler clearly is such a big Wire fan.'" I think Eddie Hearn speaks a lot of truth in this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jto-5gb ... SebSternik - Lack of stars and celebrities. - Game dying - TV contracts "wimpering out" - Hearns wanted to be in charge of the "overhaul" of RL. Seems like a lost opportunity to me.

Quote Alffi_7="Alffi_7"As far as I know the Hearns were asked to come on board and take on an 'event', think it was the Challenge Cup and / or the Magic Weekend. They turned this down and said the only way they would get involved is if they had complete control over the sport - I can't see how doing that would be a good idea irrespective to what has happened to darts, but its all opinions at the end of the day. We absolutely should be looking at ways to push certain players in to the mainstream where we can to push the sport forward - easier said than done I guess... I think the stadium rename stays just about on the right side of cringe for me, helped by the fact Littler clearly is such a big Wire fan.'" I think Eddie Hearn speaks a lot of truth in this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jto-5gb ... SebSternik - Lack of stars and celebrities. - Game dying - TV contracts "wimpering out" - Hearns wanted to be in charge of the "overhaul" of RL. Seems like a lost opportunity to me.

Wigan missed a trick after beating Penrith last season they should of re named there stadium the Liam Moore stadium

Both Wires and Man United seem to have latched on to him as much as they possibly can. I don't doubt that he supports both teams, but I'm always cynical as to how big a fan "celebrities" actually are though, and how much is just done for the publicity.



People tell me he is a genuine Wires fan who has been going to games for years before obviously having to concentrate on the darts first and foremost. If that's the case then fair enough, and by all means have him on the pitch with his trophy, but renaming the stadium is cringe.

‘Cringe’ or not, it was all about Luke and Man Utd all over the tabloids since his rise to stellar stardom, until this move by Wire pinched the mainstream and social media billing for 48hrs.

Runcorn's finest

He was born in Warrington.

As was I, but i've lived in Runcorn my entire life... so i'm not from Warrington am i...?

He lives in Warrington so he's Warringtons finest

I used to take the pi$$ out of the Widnes fans I worked with, calling them Warringtonians.



Before Halton General Hospital was built virtually all the population from Widnes was born in Warrington General Hospital, since they didn`t have a hospital in Widnes.

Some people making a big deal over where he was born. Just trolls looking for a bite. He lives in Warrington he is a Warrington fan and that’s it. Most the Man Utd fans live in China, guess they weren’t born in Salford.

Born in Warrington, lives in Warrington, supports Warrington but he's from Runcorn apparently.