The PGA Tour's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open begins today in Las Vegas, where tournament organizers are "unveiling a new Cabana suite on the 16th green in hopes of generating more revenue," according to Alan Snel of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Tournament Dir Patrick Lindsey said that the private suite "costs $15,000 for 15 tickets per day from Thursday to Sunday." He added that the Las Vegas Athletic Club "has purchased the suite" for this week's tourney at TPC Summerlin. Lindsey noted that the tournament "attempted to unveil another type of luxury seat option called the Summerlin Box, hoping to attract 15 companies that would pay $15,000 each for four 'box seat' tickets on the 18th green." But he said that the Summerlin Box "was discarded this year when there wasn't enough time to market the product." Lindsey said that the tournament "needs to recruit nonhard-core golf fans year-round to build on last year's attendance of 35,000," adding that it would be "a 'home run' to attract 50,000 fans." He said that fans who are 18 or younger and "come with a paying adult can attend for free," adding that 85% of the fans who attend "are locals." Lindsey: "If we can raise attendance, not necessarily ticket revenue, we can show sponsors there is value" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/21).
POINT OF EMPHASIS: In Las Vegas, Steve Carp wrote the PGA Tour making the Shriners Open an official FedExCup event was a "lifeline for a tournament that might not have remained in Las Vegas had the Tour not opted to go with a wraparound format with its schedule." Now in its third season, the schedule begins "in mid-October instead of early January." Golfer Scott Piercy said, "I think it saved four or five tournaments. Without the FedEx points, I don't know if these tournaments like the Shriners, the Frys and McGladrey would still be around." Carp noted getting players like Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner and Rickie Fowler to commit to play "took a lot of work" from Lindsey in his first year in the role. Months of "networking, follow-up phone calls to agents and selling the cause of the Shriners ... ultimately paid off." Lindsey: "It's an easier conversation to have now that we have the 500 points. You don't have to ask the players to come out just for the sake of the cause. Now you're talking about guys securing their future by playing here." Carp noted the Shriners' current contract with the Tour "runs through" '17. Fans also can "look for an extension to be signed sometime next year and for the tournament to remain in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future." Shriners BOT member Gary Dunwoody said, "This tournament's not going anywhere. The community is getting more and more involved, which we're thrilled to see. We want it to be a local event" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/21).
