PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open Increases Hospitality Sales 12-14%

By Jon Show, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Kraft (l), Rodriguez Will Participate In Festivities Before Tonight's WBC Game In Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rico Open, this week’s PGA Tour event played opposite the WGC-CA Championship, has increased hospitality sales by 12-14% over last year, tournament officials estimated, at a time when that revenue stream is down 10-30% at nearly every other Tour event. Tournament officials credited the interest generated in the months following last year’s inaugural event, which sold about $2M in hospitality, and a sales cycle that began in early summer. “Economically, Puerto Rico is slow like everyone else,” said Tournament Chair Sidney Wolf. Ticket sales are also up roughly 5% thanks to a new arrangement with United Way, which receives half of the proceeds for every $20 ticket sold to the tournament.

DIAMOND DAYS: The event will also start a day after the conclusion of group play for the World Baseball Classic in San Juan, which finishes up tonight with the Netherlands-Puerto Rico matchup. Golf and baseball organizers swapped hospitality and a limited number of tickets so corporate guests could attend both events. Chi Chi Rodriguez, a native of Puerto Rico and a host of the golf tournament, and golfer Greg Kraft, who won last year’s Puerto Rico Open, will take part in festivities before tonight's WBC game.