IMG World Congress Of Sports: Q&A With USGA CMO Barry Hyde

USGA CMO Barry Hyde

USGA CMO Barry Hyde was at the IMG World Congress of Sports presented by SportsBusiness Journal/Daily yesterday. SportsBusiness Journal Staff Writer Jon Show caught up with him for a few minutes after lunch.

Q: What panel are you most looking forward to hearing over the next two days?

Hyde: It was really this morning. I want to learn more about social media and what it can mean to the golfer, so I found that fascinating. Looking over the agenda, that was the thing I highlighted.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge facing the USGA in the next year? The economy was a major part of this morning’s lead panel.

Hyde: It’ll be showing recovery and showing that the golf world can adapt to the economic conditions, whether it’s — and (NHL Commissioner Gary) Bettman made the point this morning — we have to go back to the fans, selling tickets to the fans. It may be that we can’t rely on those corporate sponsorship dollars to the degree that we have in the past. From this point to next year with business at our championships, I want to show that we’ve been able to make those changes.

Q: Did you ever think that not putting a huge focus on corporate sponsorships might have better positioned the USGA to weather this storm?

Hyde: It wasn’t something I ever contemplated, but (former NBA player) Alonzo Mourning said it this morning, you look up into the stands and all the seats are still full and people still care. You’ve got to keep getting them in no matter how low you have to take some prices. Desperate times, and we do need to take fairly drastic measures, but draw that line where we can recover.

Q: Are you playing golf while you’re here?

Hyde: This is Miami and it’s still 52 degrees in New York. I’ll bring my clubs anywhere. I haven’t made any arrangements, but I’m hoping on Saturday morning after the Forty Under 40 dinner to get out to Doral.