Ally Pally by the Numbers
The 2007/08 Relocation: Transitioning from Circus Tavern
Between 1994 and 2007, the PDC World Darts Championship called Essex's Circus Tavern home. Purfleet provided an electric, smoky, cabaret-style atmosphere where 800 fans sat shoulder-to-shoulder with the players. The venue gave birth to modern television darts under Sky Sports, culminating in the immortal 2007 final between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.
However, darts had outgrown its cradle. Demand for tickets had outstripped supply by an order of magnitude, and PDC Chairman Barry Hearn recognized that the sport required an iconic, cathedral-like arena capable of matching its exploding television popularity.
In April 2007, the PDC officially confirmed that starting with the 2007/08 World Championship (played from December 2007 through the New Year's Day 2008 final), the tournament would permanently relocate to Alexandra Palace in North London.
"Moving to Alexandra Palace was the single most pivotal commercial decision in PDC history. It turned our championship from a sports event into an annual international entertainment institution."
Inside the Great Hall: The Theater of Darts
Known affectionately as "The People's Palace," Alexandra Palace was opened in 1873 atop a panoramic hill overlooking London. The championship is staged inside the magnificent Great Hall, framed by a soaring Victorian rose window and wrought-iron arches.
While the Great Hall possesses an overall standing capacity of 10,250 for live concerts, its event-specific darts configuration is entirely seated. For the 2026/27 championship, the arena accommodates an expanded capacity of over 5,000 spectators per session—a substantial increase from the approximately 3,200 seated fans accommodated during earlier Ally Pally stagings.
The layout divides between raked tiered bleacher seating at the rear and flanks and rows of long trestle banquet tables occupying the arena floor. Unlike sterile modern arenas, the table setup places fans in shared rows with pitchers of beer, fostering an infectious communal camaraderie unseen in any other major sport.
Adjacent to the Great Hall lies the vast Fans Village in the West Hall, where spectators congregate before sessions to enjoy live DJ sets, street food, interactive dartboards, and merchandise stalls.
The Birth of the Festive Fancy Dress Phenomenon
Over two decades at Ally Pally, the World Championship has evolved into the definitive British Christmas sporting tradition. Fans do not merely watch darts—they participate in a theatrical festival.
The custom of elaborate fancy dress started organically in the late 2000s and quickly became the event's visual signature. On any given night, thousands of Santas, superheroes, traffic cones, Oompa Loompas, and dartboards mingle in the arena.
The event has also developed a massive international following, particularly from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium. During the post-Christmas sessions, thousands of German supporters make their annual pilgrimage, serenading the arena with chants of "Ohne Darts wär'n wir gar nicht hier!"
Planning to attend in costume? Read our official Ally Pally Fancy Dress Guidelines for venue security requirements.
Iconic Milestones Staged at Alexandra Palace
The Inaugural Ally Pally Final & Kirk Shepherd's Fairy Tale
Canadian legend John Part defeated 21-year-old qualifier Kirk Shepherd 7–2 to become the first world champion crowned at Alexandra Palace.
Barney's Curse-Breaker
Raymond van Barneveld hit the first nine-darter in PDC World Championship history during his quarter-final victory over Jelle Klaasen.
Taylor's 16th and Final World Crown
Phil Taylor rallied from 2–4 down against 23-year-old Michael van Gerwen to claim his 16th world title in a transcendent final.
Rob Cross's Debut Miracle
Former electrician Rob Cross averaged 107.67 to defeat Phil Taylor 7–2 in "The Power's" emotional farewell match.
The Ghost Tournament
Staged behind closed doors due to UK pandemic regulations. Gerwyn Price won his maiden title in near-silence, displaying remarkable mental fortitude.
The Greatest Leg in Darts History
Michael Smith and MVG threw for double nine-darters in the second set of the final, producing Wayne Mardle's immortal commentary call.
The Luke Humphries & Luke Littler Epoch
Humphries took the 2024 title in a record-viewed final before teenage sensation Luke Littler captured back-to-back world championships in 2025 and 2026.