Darts: Can NZ host two World Series Darts events?

Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) chief executive Matthew Porter isn't ruling out adding a second leg to New Zealand for the World Series of Darts in the future.

Auckland is hosting one of seven legs on the 2018 circuit, with Germany, America, Shanghai and Australia (two) hosting others, ahead of the final in Austria.

It’ is the fourth year the PDC have brought eight of the world's best to our shores to take on eight Oceania qualifiers.

"Every time we come to Auckland, we're always well received," Porter told Newshub.

"The players love coming down here, Auckland is a beautiful city and New Zealand is a great country to be in.

"We are looking at other markets we can move into. We are keen to grow the sport interracially, but we have to look after our core territories, and New Zealand is vastly becoming one of those.

"But we have to be careful not to saturate the market, and there are issues about our busy schedule and venue availability, but we wouldn't rule anything out."

"We would love to take the darts to the South Island sometime."

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld is one of top players who likes the idea of staying in New Zealand for an extra week,

"I hope so, but I would hope it would be played the week after, so we don't have to fly back 32 hours," he told Newshub.

Van Barneveld loves New Zealand. He often wears an All Blacks jersey, and he bumped into boxer Joseph Parker on the plane ride to Auckland.

He would love to spend more time here and if New Zealand hosted a second leg, that would happen.

"I'm a big fan of Lord of the Rings, and a few years ago, I went to Hobbiton. I'd love to go back, but I don’t think we have enough time to go this time.

"In the future, I'll come back for a holiday and view the whole country, because I've been told New Zealand is amazing."

Newshub.

Join us at 7pm Sunday for live updates of the Auckland Darts Masters semis and final.