The Kemper Open, played this past weekend in Avenel, MD, has
lost "three major sponsorships, costing the tournament more than
$100,00 in revenue," according to John Lombardo of the WASHINGTON
BUSINESS JOURNAL. A "primary" reason for the loss of corporate
support is the U.S. Senior Open, which will be played next month
at Betehsda's Congressional Country Club. Kemper Open Chair Ben
Brundred admitted they have "lost a couple of national companies
to the Senior Open. Companies that are usually with us and the
Senior Open this year couldn't do both ... We will make up for it
by cutting expenses." At the Kemper, a corporate tent costs
$38,500 (no catering), while at the U.S. Senior Open, a tent
costs $75,000. Lombardo writes, "as a result, the competition
for corporate dollars has become fierce among tournament
organizers as companies shop the tournaments to maximize their
entertainment investment." In '97, the U.S. Open will be at
Congressional and Brundred is "already anticpating" an impact.
Brundred: "Since we will be going back-to-back, the national
sponsors will probably be going to Congressional and the local
companies will be staying with us" (WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL,
6/15 issue).
PAYNE IN THE DUDS: PGA star Payne Stewart's "signature NFL
garb may be due for a big change after next year," according to
Barker Davis of the WASHINGTON TIMES. Stewart noted there is one
more year on his NFL deal: "Originally the NFL wanted to target
the the golf audience for their merchandise, and they chose me as
their representative. But it's been about eight years and I
don't know how much longer it's going to last" (WASHINGTON TIMES,
6/11).
