Ryder Cup Injected EU143 Million Into Ireland Economy
27/04/2007 |
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The Ryder Cup, golf's premier team event, was worth 143 million euros ($194.6 million) to host country Ireland last year, 10 percent more than anticipated, a survey by Deloitte & Touche LLP found.
The economic benefit to the host nation was a record for the event, played between two teams of 12 golfers from the U.S. and Europe. The amount was 32 percent more than the 2002 edition at the Belfry in central England generated. The biennial tournament is hosted alternately by American and European clubs.
The study ``confirms previously reported perceptions about our visitors' experience, with over 80 percent suggesting that they would return to Ireland in the future and 92 percent prepared to recommend Ireland as a golfing holiday destination,'' Irish Arts, Tourism and Sports Minister John O'Donoghue said in an e-mailed European Tour statement today.
Europe in September beat the U.S. by a record-tying margin at the K Club at Straffan, County Kildare, for an unprecedented third straight win. The European Tour wants to build and either part- or fully own venues after the 2014 edition at Gleneagles, Scotland, to better exploit the money-making potential of its most profitable tournament.
Most of the economic benefit came from event organizers and spectators, who spent an average 350 euros a day, the report said. Overseas fans spent the most, at 526 euros daily, while corporate sector attendees averaged 500 euros each. Top spenders were U.S. visitors, averaging 600 euros a day.
Staying On
Spectator numbers were 60 percent higher than at the 2002 edition, according to the report, commissioned by Ryder Cup Europe and Failte Ireland, the country's tourism development authority. Ireland's economy is worth about $219 billion.
``In addition to spending three days at the Ryder Cup, visitors from America stayed in Ireland for a further 4.7 days, while other overseas visitors stayed for an additional three days,'' Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills said.
The 2008 edition will be played at the Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky, from Sept. 16-21 before returning to the U.K. in 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales.
From 2018 until at least 2030 every European host will be on the continental mainland, European Tour Chief Executive Officer George O'Grady said in an interview before last year's edition. The tour nets about 10 million pounds ($20 million) from 50 million pounds revenue at the Ryder Cup, he said.
(Source: Bloomberg.com)
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