Premier League kicks off at O2

Premier League Darts is set for its biggest ever crowd when the new season begins at London's O2 Arena.

The 15 venues have been confirmed for the 2010 tournament, which starts at the popular Greenwich venue on February 11 and visits 13 UK cities before the Wembley play-offs on May 23.

More than 75,000 fans saw the 2009 Premier League Darts, completing the event's progression into the country's largest indoor sporting event in just five seasons.

That number is set to increase next year, with over 10,000 tickets going on sale for the O2 Arena - which would be the biggest crowd in the sport's modern era.

The Liverpool Echo Arena, Belfast's Odyssey Arena and the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester all hold up to 8,000 fans to see the world's best darts players.

"To be able to stage the opening league night of the 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the world-famous O2 Arena in London shows not only the popularity of the tournament but also the appetite for PDC darts," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"This tournament has grown each year since 2005, when only 600 fans attended the first league night in Stoke.

"To now be able to host over 10,000 fans at the O2 Arena as well as crowds of up to 8,000 at the UK's other top indoor venues is a massive statement for the sport.

"No other indoor sport is able to match the excitement and value for money offered by the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, which will travel to all four corners of the UK over three months."

This year, the £400,000 tournament also returns to the BIC in Bournemouth, which previously hosted sold-out Premier League Darts in 2006 and 2007.

Following the visits to the O2 Arena and BIC in Bournemouth, the tournament moves on to the Odyssey Arena in Belfast and then to Exeter's Westpoint Arena.

Visits to the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, Brighton Centre and the new LG Arena in Birmingham complete the first half of the 14-week league phase.

Cardiff's CIA, the SECC in Glasgow and Sheffield Arena continue the UK-wide tour, before the Liverpool Echo Arena, AECC in Aberdeen, Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle and Trent FM Arena in Nottingham host the remaining league nights.

The top four players from the eight-man league table will then progress to the play-offs, which will be held at the Wembley Arena on Sunday May 23.

All nights are screened live on Sky Sports and will start at 7pm, and feature the world's top six players, following the 2010 World Darts Championship, alongside two Wildcard selections.

Reigning champion James Wade will defend his title in the tournament, while four-time winner Phil Taylor and Holland's Raymond van Barneveld will also compete.

Mervyn King and Terry Jenkins, the 2007 runner-up, are also likely to maintain their position within the top six of the PDC's Order of Merit, but players such as Dennis Priestley, Ronnie Baxter and UK Open finalist Colin Osborne are all fighting for a spot going into the autumn's major tournaments.

The 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts will again boast £400,000 prize money, including £125,000 to the eventual champion.

Tickets go on general sale from Monday September 7.

2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts