Matchroom Sport is a UK-based sporting event promotions company founded by Barry Hearn and run by him and his son Eddie Hearn. It first came to attention in the sports of snooker and boxing and is also involved in pool, bowling, golf, fishing, darts, table tennis, poker and gymnastics. The company is based in Brentwood, Essex.[1]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports promotion |
| Founded | 1982 in Brentwood, Essex, England |
| Headquarters | Brentwood, Essex |
Key people | Barry Hearn (Founder and father) Eddie Hearn (Son) |
| Website | www |
Matchroom has had broadcasting agreements in the United Kingdom with DAZN, Sky Sports, ITV, and the BBC.
History
editMatchroom formed in 1982 concentrating on snooker management with the likes of Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, and Jimmy White under contract. It sponsored two non-ranking tournaments, the Matchroom Professional Championship (1986–1988, restricted to its contracted players) and Matchroom League (1987–1994). A novelty song called "Snooker Loopy" by "Chas & Dave and The Matchroom Mob" reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in 1986, with five Matchroom players featured on backup vocals and in the video.
Hearn's first foray into boxing promotion was the Frank Bruno vs. Joe Bugner heavyweight clash in 1987 in front of 35,000 people at White Hart Lane.[2][3]
The range of sports increased in 1994 with the Mosconi Cup, an event which sees teams from Europe and the United States compete in a 9-ball pool tournament.[4][5] It has become a major event on the professional pool calendar.[6]
Over the years, Matchroom's portfolio under Hearn grew, taking a majority stake in the Professional Darts Corporation in 2001, helping oversee a growth in the sport.[3] Matchroom Sport also promote the World Cup of Pool, a national team scotch doubles event, and the World Pool Masters, an annual nine-ball event.[7]
In 2002, the company formed PGA EuroPro Tour, the UK's leading developmental golf tour, in association with the PGA.[8] Later, in the 2000s, came ten pin bowling's Weber Cup.[9] In 2009, Barry Hearn became the majority shareholder in World Snooker Tour Ltd. Since then the sport has grown, with prize money increased and new events introduced worldwide.[10]
More recently, Matchroom has launched the World Championship of Ping Pong,[11] Superstars of Gymnastics, British Basketball All-Stars,[12] and British Fast5 Netball All-Stars.
In May 2018, Matchroom Boxing agreed five-year deal with DAZN reportedly worth £740 million to promote 16 fights in the US on the channel.[13] In June 2021, both firms extended its agreement.[14]
In April 2021, Barry Hearn stepped down as chairman with his son Eddie taking over the role. Barry will continue as president in an advisory role, while Eddie takes over as head of the PGA EuroPro tour, alongside overseeing Matchroom's wider operations and continuing to head the boxing division.[15]
Boxing
editCurrent stable
editReferences
edit- ^ "MATCHROOM SPORT LIMITED".
- ^ Gibson, John (29 July 2008). "Hit man Hearn has shown Midas touch across the whole spectrum of sport; From boxing to darts and snooker to soccer, rags to riches story of ex-accountant who has become a big player in his own right". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle.
- ^ a b Ranson, Jacob (31 December 2020). "Barry Hearn awarded OBE in New Year honours list". eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Faith, hope and charity". Sunday Life. 20 November 1994. p. 82.
- ^ "Pool star Kelly Fisher wants women to compete at the Mosconi Cup again". skysports.com. 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Mosconi Cup returns to Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports". skysports.com. 7 December 2017.
- ^ "World Pool Masters Archives - Matchroom Pool". Matchroom Pool. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Brady's confidence high on the Europro Tour". Irish Independent. 24 June 2002. p. Golfer 3. Retrieved 7 August 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "About".
- ^ "World Snooker: Barry Hearn's replacement Steve Dawson ponders filling big shoes and dealing with Judd Trump". BBC Sport. 27 April 2021.
- ^ Jim White, "Darts king Barry Hearn turns his global sights to table tennis", The Daily Telegraph, 4 January 2013.
- ^ "Home ⋆ All Stars Basketball". All Stars Basketball.
- ^ Lewis, Ron (17 April 2024). "Eddie Hearn's Matchroom agrees £740m US deal". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Dixon, Ed (28 June 2021). "Inside the deal: DAZN and Matchroom Boxing". SportsPro. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Barry Hearn replaced by son Eddie as chairman of Matchroom". BBC Sport. 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Boxers Archive - Matchroom Boxing". Matchroom Boxing.