The Metrodome could become the permanent home of the English Open should next month's staging of Barnsley's biggest ever snooker event be a success, says former World Championship finalist Barry Hawkins.
The Metrodome – which is also the home of tenpin bowling's showpiece Weber Cup and regularly welcomes some of darts' biggest names – will host the English Open from October 16-22 which is the sport's first major event to be staged there. Some of the confirmed entrants are World Champions Mark Selby, Stuart Bingham, Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams as well as defending English Open champion Liang Wenbo and well-known names such as Jimmy White. With a month to go until the event, others such as Ronnie O'Sullivan could still confirm their attendance. So far more than 700 tickets have been sold and some of the sessions are close to being sold out.
Hawkins told the Chronicle: "I've always thought the Metrodome was a good venue. We have only had qualifiers there before so this will be the first major event there. If it all goes well then Barnsley could become the permanent home of the English Open. That is how it usually works if they find a venue that works well for an event."
The English Open is part of the Home Nations Championship which includes the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, Scottish Open in Glasgow and Welsh Open in Cardiff with anyone who wins all four claiming the £1million prize. Hawkins said: "It's a big event for all of us so I would expect all the top names to be there. There is a big financial prize at the end of the Home Nations as well. It's good that the big events are going to other places to spread the word of the sport around the country.
"Hopefully the Barnsley public really get behind the event and there are plenty of local people there as well as the snooker enthusiasts who follow us around the country.It's really important that we get young kids watching the event and inspire the next generation because they have become a dying breed. It's good to bring the sport to a new audience."
Tickets are priced from £10 per session for adults and £8 for concessions with more details at worldsnooker.com.
