PDC Players Championship Shake-Up: Rio Carnival Forces Venue Switch for November 2025 Events
The PDC has been forced to scramble its schedule for the upcoming Players Championship tournaments, converting two key November 2025 events from their traditional UK venues to alternative locations due to a massive clash with the **Rio de Janeiro Carnival** – yes, the world’s biggest party, which has unexpectedly spilled over into the darts calendar with a special “Carnival Extension” edition running November 10-15. The Brazilian blowout, typically February-March, was rescheduled this year amid global tourism pushes, drawing millions to Rio and inadvertently booking out the PDC’s planned spot at the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan for PC35 and PC36 (November 11-12). PDC chiefs confirmed the pivot on November 2, 2025, opting for a hybrid “convert” model: relocating to the nearby **Bawtry Leisure Centre in Doncaster** while incorporating virtual “carnival cams” for live streams to keep the festive vibe alive.
It’s a wild twist for the £10k-per-event Pro Tour grind, where pros like Luke Littler (locked in after his PC32 win) and Gerwyn Price (riding a four-title streak) were prepping for Wigan’s familiar oche. Instead, they’ll tango in Doncaster – just 40 miles south – with the PDC “converting” the setup to mimic Rio flair: samba beats in warm-ups, feathered backdrops, and even a post-match caipirinha bar (non-alcoholic for the players, of course). “It’s a carnival of chaos,” quipped PDC CEO Matt Porter in a statement. “Wigan’s off-limits – the Carnival Commission’s booked it for samba schools – so we’re converting Doncaster into Darts Rio. Expect feathers on the flight path.”
The Venue Conversion: From Wigan to Doncaster – What Changes?
The PDC’s quick pivot ensures minimal disruption: both events retain their £175k total prize pots (£10k winner each), but with tweaks to embrace the “carnival spirit”:
| Original Plan | Converted Venue | Key Changes | Impact on Pros |
|—————|—————–|————-|—————|
| **PC35 (Nov 11)**: Robin Park, Wigan | Bawtry Leisure Centre, Doncaster | 200 extra seats; LED “samba lights” on boards; free caipirinha mocktails | Shorter travel for northern stars (Littler: 30-min drive vs. 45); Price calls it “bonus leg day” |
| **PC36 (Nov 12)**: Robin Park, Wigan | Bawtry Leisure Centre, Doncaster | Virtual Rio feed (cameras on Carnival floats); feathered scoreboards | Humphries jokes: “I’ll throw in a sombrero – wait, wrong party.” No qualification hits |
– **Why the Carnival Clash?** Rio’s 2025 extension (tied to FIFA Club World Cup tie-ins) ballooned to 500k attendees, snapping up Wigan’s arena for a “UK Samba Fest” pop-up. PDC sources say negotiations failed: “They offered us beads; we needed the oche.”
– **Pro Reactions**: Littler, fresh off his Northampton loss to Humphries (6-3 exhibition), posted: **”Wigan to Doncaster? Fine – as long as no samba during my throw. PC35, let’s nuke it.”** Price, post-weight-loss glow-up, added: **”Carnival? I’ll convert my averages – 100+ incoming.”** Van Gerwen: **”Feathers? I’ll pluck ’em mid-leg.”**
Bigger Picture: A Welcome Distraction in a Packed Slate
This venue hop slots neatly before the £600k Players Championship Finals (November 17-22, Minehead) and Grand Slam (November 8-16, Wolverhampton) – no qualification chaos, as points carry over. It’s the PDC’s first “converted” event since COVID venue swaps, but with a party twist: live streams on PDC TV will intercut darts with Carnival footage for “global flavor.” Critics call it gimmicky; fans? “Darts meets debauchery – sign me up!”
As the oche heads south, expect chaos on the board too – Littler’s eyeing PC35 glory for Finals seeding, while Price hunts a fifth win. Carnival or not, the arrows fly November 11. Who’s converting doubters first? Samba your bets. 🎯🥳
