THE Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, Britain's biggest indoor sporting event, will make its debut at The O2 arena in London for the 2010 tournament in one of 15 thrilling nights of darts staged across the UK.

Over 75,000 fans saw the 2009 Whyte & Mackay 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 kick-off on February 11 - 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.

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 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 NIA 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.

Source: PDC

Darts Hospitality - 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts

Darts hospitality from Alexander Events - The Darts Corporate Hospitality experts! For more darts hospitality information please click on the link: 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League DARTS HOSPITALITY.

Alternatively contact our darts hospitality team if you wish to discuss creating a hospitality package for an upcoming darts event.

After seeing fans jam London's Wembley Stadium the past two years to watch an NFL game, the league is considering sending a second regular-season contest overseas in time for the 2010 season.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that the second game also could be played in London or another location in the United Kingdom. The issue will be discussed at next week's league meetings and could be included in a larger plan to add up to two regular-season games to the NFL schedule.

Fans enter sold-out Wembley Stadium in London last year for the New Orleans Saints-San Diego Chargers game. Positive fan response has the NFL considering sending another game London's way.

"The fan reaction we've had in London has been extraordinary. We would like to feed that passion," Goodell said after speaking at the Charlotte Touchdown Club. "We have a great fan base in the UK. There have been discussions of taking the second game and playing it in another market in the UK. That's something that we'll evaluate."

The NFL first staged a regular-season game in London in 2007, when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10. Last year, the New Orleans Saints beat the San Diego Chargers 37-32 at Wembley Stadium.

Both games were sellouts, and fans quickly gobbled up tickets for next season's Oct. 25 game between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While Goodell reiterated that there are no plans to move the Super Bowl to London, he said a second regular-season game is drawing support from league owners.

"I think the teams have had a great experience that have gone over," Goodell said. "We've been able to build on that, and I think teams recognize it's an honor and a privilege to go over and play there. And it can be done without impacting the team negatively."

Saints coach Sean Payton was critical of the "sloppy" field conditions at Wembley Stadium last season and the logistics involved in playing a "home" game in London.

The NFL did give the Saints and Chargers byes the week after the game. The Patriots and Buccaneers also will have a week off after this year's London game, which counts as a home contest for Tampa Bay.

NFL Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith couldn't immediately be reached for comment on the prospects of a second game overseas.

"The negative is taking the home game away from the fans," Goodell said. "It's another reason why potentially restructuring the season and changing two preseason into regular-season (games) can be something that we find is beneficial to the fans."

Goodell spent about an hour before Tuesday's luncheon visiting with Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, who is recovering from a heart transplant that he received on Super Bowl Sunday. Goodell said "the Big Cat will be roaring pretty quick" and indicated that they discussed issues on the agenda for the league meetings, which Richardson will not attend.

Goodell: Richardson progressing

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell visited with Jerry Richardson for the first time since the Carolina Panthers owner underwent a heart transplant three months ago. More ... Goodell said he will not make a recommendation on adding an extra game or two to the schedule at the expense of preseason games and doesn't expect owners to vote on the issue next week.

The collective bargaining agreement also will be discussed, and Goodell said he expects talks with Smith to heat up in early June. The current deal expires after the 2010 season.

Goodell answered written questions from fans at the luncheon, including inquiries on imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick and retired signal-caller Brett Favre. One fan asked why would a "convicted felon, Michael Vick, be allowed back in the NFL" after he finishes a prison sentence for a dogfighting conviction.

"I would put the emphasis on potential, because we haven't made a decision on that yet," Goodell said. "I think we all have to recognize in this world that people make mistakes. I'm not condoning the mistake -- what Michael did was horrific."

Goodell said he hasn't spoken to Favre in several months amid reports he's considering playing another season.

"I'm sure as the season gets closer, he's going to want to play," Goodell said. "It's just the competitive spirit that's made him so great. But that's a personal decision. Whether teams are interested, they'll have to make a decision on whether it'll improve their teams."

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Source: NFL.com

2010 John Smith's Grand National tickets and hospitality packages are now available to purchase.

Make sure you're first past the post in securing your tickets for the ultimate sporting and social event of the year: you can buy tickets online or by calling 0844 579 3001, or buy hospitality by calling 0151 522 2911.

Special Offer!

As a thank you for your custom, book before Wednesday 30th September and we'll send you two complimentary tickets* to our Becher Chase Day in November, which features Christmas festivities and racing over the Grand National fences.

From Tuesday 1st September, from 9am

Tickets and grandstand badges will be on sale at Aintree Racecourse

From this date, you'll be able to buy tickets and grandstand badges directly in person from Aintree Racecourse, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Ticket line: 0844 579 3001

Hospitality line: 0151 522 2911

*Minimum purchase of two Tattersalls tickets required. Only two complimentary tickets per transaction. Valid only on Sunday 22nd November 2009. Non-transferable and no cash alternative offered.

** Please note, there is no booking fee for bookings made online but a £2 booking fee is applicable to all bookings made at the racecourse or on our Booking Line (0844 579 3001).

Please note, due to customer feedback, grandstand badges are limited to a maximum of 10 per customer.

Source: Aintree Website

Andrew Flintoff's five-wicket haul inspired England as they went one up in the npower Ashes with a 115 run victory

Alexander Events are to hold a charity golf day followed by a black tie dinner to raise funds for Claire House Children's Hospice on Friday 10th July 2009.

The event is at Formby Hall (http://www.formbyhallgolfclub.co.uk) and will consist of 18 teams playing to win the trophy.  The evening will consist of an auction with some great prizes, a raffle which will see a diamond pendant go to a very lucky winner and live entertainment from The Deadbeats.

Manchester United have accepted a world record offer of £80m from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

"United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player," read a statement from the Old Trafford club.

It added that the decision came at Ronaldo's request after he "again expressed his desire to leave".

United described the offer for the 24-year-old forward as unconditional and added that they expected the matter to be concluded by 30 June.

It is understood that the transfer fee would be made available for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to invest in the transfer market.

Madrid signed Brazilian Kaka for a reported £56m earlier in the week, surpassing the previous world record fee in pounds sterling of £45.6m, which Real paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

That deal was sealed by the ambition of returning Real president Florentino Perez, who previously led the Spanish club from 2000 to 2006 - during the famous galacticos era.

And Perez had previously made it clear he would do "everything possible" to sign Ronaldo.

Madrid have also been linked with Liverpool's Xabi Alonso, Valencia's David Villa and Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery since Perez's unopposed election signalled the return of their vast spending.

There had been reports that Madrid would have to pay a £26m penalty clause to Ronaldo as a consequence of an alleged "pre-contract" arrangement that had been agreed with the player's representative Jorge Mendes, if the Spanish club did not sign him this summer.

But the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid stated that Real had yet to confirm any agreement to buy Ronaldo or the agreed price of £80m stated by United. Thursday is a public holiday in Madrid and no announcements are expected.

"This was one that was never ever going to go away," said BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent Mike Ingham.

"After the Champions League final he criticised Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics, he threw his toys out of the pram in the derby with Manchester City after he was substituted. He's been very high maintenance. And £80m is hard to resist.

"Personally I'm very sorry to see him leave but it's absolutely inevitable. If it hadn't been this summer it would have been next summer.

"This could mean they might be able to keep Carlos Tevez, maybe Wayne Rooney can be liberated."

Ronaldo, who joined United in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon for £12.2m, was strongly linked with a move to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2008.

United lodged a complaint with world governing body Fifa last June over what they believed was a deliberate attempt by Real to unsettle the winger.

one-united 

After a long, drawn-out saga that ran through the summer months, the Portugal international insisted he was happy at Old Trafford and remained at United for the 2008-09 season.

"Now I understand I made the best decision," Ronaldo told Spanish sports paper Marca after he had made that choice. "I am with Manchester in body and soul."

But the speculation soured relations between the clubs and last December United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that he would not "sell that mob a virus".

And despite Ronaldo's claim that he wanted to remain at Old Trafford he was the subject of constant speculation during the 2008-09 season and often gave mixed messages about his future.

If Ronaldo does sign for Madrid his last appearance for United would have been in the Champions League final that the Premier League champions lost 2-0 to Barcelona in Rome.

"History will remember him very well in terms of his contribution as a footballer, he'll also be seen as petulant, egotistical and stubborn but he's been a wonderful player," said United we Stand fanzine editor Andy Mitten.

It took time for Ronaldo to find his best form after joining United but became a pivotal player for United, who have won the last three Premier League titles.

In the 2007-08 season he scored 42 goals, which topped the previous club record for a midfielder held by George Best, and was on the scoresheet as United defeated Chelsea in the Champions League final.

Ronaldo was the top scorer last season with 26 goals, taking his total for United to 118 in 292 appearances.

Source: BBC

Manchester based corporate hospitality event specialists Alexander Events is pleased to announce the launch of its brand new website.

Alexander Events was formed in 2003 and has forged a reputation for designing and staging bespoke events that are memorable and results orientated.

The new website provides details on the bespoke events ranging from horse racing hospitality and football hospitality to rugby hospitality, cricket hospitality and concert hospitality, including Take That tickets for the concert at Old Trafford Cricket Ground Manchester 2009.

Together this creative and award winning team can work to any brief by incorporating a variety of event disciplines. These include experienced event design and management.  Working with a variety of clients with turnovers ranging from £50k to £2.3 billion ensures we can manage a broad range of events and concepts.

Alexander Event's complete one-stop service is delivered with the highest attention to detail which ensures corporate hospitality events of consistently high quality that are produced with creativity, with professionalism and within budget.

Iain Evans, managing director of Alexander Events commented, "We've got such a good relationship with Text, we know how good their content management system is and we know they can deliver. Text Internet Marketing was the obvious choice for Alexander Events."

To discuss your next event with one of the Alexander Events representatives and for information on all that we have to offer, call us on 0161 928 8815 or contact us online.

About Alexander Events: www.alexanderevents.co.uk

Corporate hospitality is a strategic marketing tool for any business and Alexander Events work with their clients to ensure that budgets are optimised.

Be it a prestigious sporting occasion in the UK such as the Henley Royal Regatta rowing hospitality or tennis hospitality or a fully scheduled corporate event abroad, Alexander Events ensure that events run smoothly and effectively.

Sir Alex Ferguson joined the chorus of disapproval over the state of Wembley's pitch after Manchester United lost to Everton in their FA Cup semi-final.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger called the surface "a disaster" and "laughable" after Saturday's defeat by Chelsea.

And worries over the pitch prompted Ferguson to field a youthful team.

"They've got all these lights around the perimeter to help the growth and the standard of the soil but it looks dead to me," said the United manager.

Wembley took seven years to build and cost £750m but the surface appeared to cut up severely throughout both matches at the weekend, which were played in dry conditions.

If you go to a lot of places in Europe and Africa you get pitches that are a lot worse than that

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink

"It is not a pitch for a stadium like that," stated Wenger. "You spend all that money and still have no pitch."

After watching Saturday's match, Ferguson took the decision to pull Paul Scholes, Berbatov and Patrice Evra from his starting line-up, although all three came on as substitutes.

"When I saw the pitch what I didn't want was to go into extra time with my strongest squad," added Ferguson after his side were beaten 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out following a 0-0 draw.

"Yesterday it looked spongy and dead and difficult to move the ball quickly around it. So we had to go with the bold decision of playing the younger ones.

"After all, our club is built on giving young players opportunities and they didn't disappoint."

Since reopening its doors two years ago, the Wembley pitch has often come in for criticism. The current one is the fifth to have been laid in that brief timeframe.

Australia's rugby union authorities launched an investigation into whether it contributed to two Wallaby players being injured in an international against the Barbarians in December 2008.

England's 3-2 defeat at home to Croatia in November 2007 - a result that cost them a place at Euro 2008 - was played out in treacherous conditions as heavy rain failed to drain away from the field of play.

Croatia manager Slaven Bilic criticised the state of the pitch, which only weeks earlier had hosted an American football game.

The stadium has also hosted the Race of Champions rally event, where it was covered in tarmac, as well as a number of music concerts and rugby league's Challenge Cup final.

The turf is not scheduled to be relaid again until after the summer, by which time the three Football League play-offs, the FA Cup final and England's World Cup qualifier with Andorra will have all been played at the stadium.

Wembley is also set to host the 2011 Champions League final.

However, Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink was not critical of the playing conditions at Britain's premier sporting arena.

"If you go to a lot of places in Europe and Africa you get pitches that are a lot worse than that," he insisted.

"I don't think you should start talking about the pitch, whether you win or lose. It was fine to play on."

The Football Association has yet to comment on the state of the Wembley pitch.

Saracens have announced the signing of three English players ahead of next season, including full-back Michael Horak from Treviso.

London Irish prop Richard Skuse and Exeter scrum-half Kevin Barrett complete the trio.

Incoming director of rugby at Vicarage Road, Brendan Venter, says the moves highlight a belief in domestic talent.

"As a club, we are determined to develop English players and deliver them into the England team," he said.

All three of the signings have played for London Irish at points in their careers, with 31-year-old Horak earning his solitary England cap against Argentina in 2002 while playing his club rugby for the Exiles.

"We have a fantastic number of exciting and hugely talented youngsters in the backline, and Michael will provide a much-needed experienced head at the back," said Venter.

"He has a strong left foot, which is always useful in a full-back, but perhaps most importantly he is player of immense character."

Now 28, Skuse has represented England at under-21 level and has spent five seasons with London Irish since signing from Bristol.

"Richard is an outstanding player, who has been prevented by injury from fulfilling his potential at London Irish. We believe we can accelerate his development at Saracens, and help him win international honours," Venter added.

Barrett, 28, has become a regular with the England Sevens side and helped the side to their first ever tournament win in the IRB Sevens World Series in Wellington in February.

"Kevin is a livewire scrum-half, and it is not surprising that he has made such an impact with Exeter and in the England Sevens squad," continued Venter.

Saracens are expected to announce another seven signings, consisting mainly of South Africans and Italians, this week as part of a dramatic overhaul of the club's playing staff.

Fifteen members of the current squad were informed in February that they will be released at the end of the season.

A South African consortium led by businessman Johann Rupert has invested heavily in Saracens and chief executive Edward Griffiths has outlined a new push to recruit supporters from London's large South African expatriate community.