Charlie Manby has weighed in on a potential change for PDC floor events, suggesting that background music could improve the atmosphere during ProTour competitions. The young Englishman, who transitioned to the day-to-day grind of the ProTour this year after playing before thousands at Alexandra Palace during the World Championship, noted the stark contrast in settings. "You are allowed one guest per person and it is silent as well," Manby told talkSPORTS. "Coming straight off a crowd of 3,000 people at Alexandra Palace, it was different."
The debate around atmosphere at floor events resurfaced recently after presenter Andy Goldstein proposed adding music during matches, citing examples from sports like pool and tennis where background music often plays on outside courts. Manby expressed openness to the idea, stating, "Maybe, yeah, possibly. It is definitely a thing that people might like." He added, "If I am practising at home, I will always have something on in the background. I can't practise in silence."
Describing the current ProTour conditions, Manby said, "The room is not entirely silent, but there is not much noise going on. It is just like a constant little whisper from everyone." However, he stressed that performances don't necessarily suffer in this environment: "It is different in many ways. But I think if it is just you and the dartboard and you are playing your darts, you can perform the same." His preference clearly lies with larger stages, as he remarked, "But I like the big stage events. I think it brings the best out of me."
Manby is putting together a solid first full season on the PDC Tour, with the 20-year-old reaching the quarterfinals of Players Championship 7 and 8 and making the fourth round of the UK Open. Earlier, he signed a deal with Target Darts, further underlining his status as an emerging talent.
