PGA Tour Set To Launch '09 Season Amid Questions From Economy
 |
Votaw: PGA Tour Has Reserves
In Case Of Difficult Times |
As a result of the current economic crisis, the most important focus at the start of the '09 PGA Tour season, which kicks off with next week's Mercedes-Benz Championship, "won't be on the golf ball but rather on the economic reality," according to Ron Sirak of GOLF WORLD. The first three months of the Tour season, from next week's tournament in Hawaii "across the West Coast and through Florida -- usually a buoyant stretch -- will be dogged by persistent questions: What is the impact of the recession on this tournament? And why are struggling corporations spending their money on a golf tournament?" Sirak notes the Tour is "well positioned to weather hard times because its business model is sound and well thought-out and because it has a good story to tell in these difficult times." PGA Tour Exec VP/Communications & Int'l Relations Ty Votaw: "We have built up reserves because we anticipate difficult times. One reason (is) that when we go to negotiate (the next) TV deals, the climate might change." Sirak notes both corporate stockholders and the public "need to be reassured that sponsoring a golf tournament and doing corporate marketing at a sporting event is not a frivolous use of money," so "expect to hear the word 'charity' a lot during the first three months of the season." The Tour will position itself as a "good citizen that contributes to local charities and stages a tournament that provides business opportunities for local vendors." Among the industries "most challenged" by the economy is automotive, and Buick Golf Marketing Manager Larry Peck said of the brand sponsoring two Tour events through 2010, "We still find a lot of value in our association with the PGA Tour." Sirak notes Buick is "staking a lot, perhaps even its future, on the 2010 LaCrosse," which will be on display at the par-3 16th hole at Torrey Pines during the Buick Invitational in February. Peck said of the vehicle, "It will get a lot of TV time. That's part of the value we get." Meanwhile, the Tour's Fall Series will be "down at least two events" this season, and with more golfers "chasing European Tour money in Asia and the Middle East at that time of the year, a trimming of the late-season events will impact the second-tier players the most severely" (GOLF WORLD, 12/26 issue). Votaw said of the economy's impact on the Tour, "We've had dramatic growth for the past 10 years and we've been saying our future pace of growth will not match what we've seen. Will it be flattening? Certainly" (JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/26 issue).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Tiger Not Among China's Most Popular
November 6, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
PGA Tour Reno-Tahoe Faces Local Competition
November 4, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Reno-Tahoe Open In Search Of Title Sponsor
November 4, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
PGA Tour Cancels Viking Classic
November 2, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
PGA Tour Signs U.K. Licensing Deal
November 2, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Tiger Not Among China's Most Popular
November 6, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Ryan Moore Inks Deal With Scratch Golf
November 6, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
PGA Tour Reno-Tahoe Faces Local Competition
November 4, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
LPGA SoCal Event To Be At La Costa Resort
November 4, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Reno-Tahoe Open In Search Of Title Sponsor
November 4, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
