The PGA Tour today announced Wyndham Worldwide has signed a 10-year extension of its title sponsorship of the annual event in Greensboro, N.C., running through '26. The deal begins when the current four-year agreement for the Wyndham Championship ends after the '16 tournament. Wyndham has served as the title sponsor of the tourney since '07. BB&T today also announced it will continue as the event's local presenting sponsor through '26. The Wyndham Championship is the sixth-oldest event on the PGA Tour outside of the major championships (PGA Tour). In Greensboro, Owen Covington reports PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem today while announcing the extension "heaped praise on Wyndham's involvement as what he called 'an enlightened sponsor' for its level of engagement with the tournament." Finchem said that there are only a few "10-year sponsorship agreements among the 47 PGA Tour events each year, which sets the Wyndham Championship apart." He added that this level of commitment "speaks to the confidence Wyndham has in the tournament." Piedmont Triad Charitable Foundation Chair Bobby Long, whose organization runs the event, said that an announcement like the one today "was unthinkable" as recently as '05, when the long-term future of the tournament was in doubt (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/21).
CHECK OUT TIME: Crowne Plaza VP/Brand Management Gina LaBarre said that the hotel chain "would not extend its contract" as title sponsor of the PGA Tour's annual tournament at Colonial after next month's event. In Ft. Worth, Jimmy Burch reports Crowne Plaza has sponsored the event since '07, the "longest stretch in tournament history." LaBarre said, "We’re just kind of evolving our marketing strategy, and with that is going to come a new marketing plan." Burch notes Colonial Country Club officials "have been aware of Crowne Plaza’s intentions long enough that talks are ongoing with replacement title sponsors." Tournament Chair Bobby Patton "did not rule out the possibility that a new title sponsor could be presented during tournament week." Reps from both sides "characterized the departure as amicable" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/21). In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel reported the tournament is "already in discussion with an automobile company, and that should be locked up soon enough" (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 4/20).
TAKE IT TO THE BANK: In South Carolina, Alan Blondin notes RBC's five-year title sponsorship and Boeing's five-year presenting sponsorship of the PGA Tour's Heritage tournament at Hilton Head "each officially have one year remaining." Tournament Dir Steve Wilmot said that his staff last week during the event "was hard at work" on discussions to "secure long-term extensions before the contracts approach their expiration next April." Wilmot said that tourney execs during the event met with "the tour, we met with RBC, we met with RBC and the tour, we met with Boeing, we met with Boeing and the governor (Nikki Haley), we met with Boeing and the tour." He added, "It’s all very positive. We’ll continue to work.” PGA Tour CMO Ty Votaw said that the Tour "is not speaking to any other companies or organizations about possible title or presenting sponsorship of the tournament, a possible indication they fully expect RBC and/or Boeing to extend agreements." Meanwhile, the decision to move the event's final-round tee times up to between 7:30-9:30am ET from a schedule that had leaders teeing off around 2 p.m. for live TV broadcasts "was made around noon Saturday for planning purposes." Wilmot said that the decision, "resulting in the tournament being broadcast on a tape-delay basis after most viewers likely knew the outcome, was a joint call between sponsor RBC, the PGA Tour, CBS and tournament executives." Wilmot: "Nobody wins getting into the Monday scenario. ... We all want it live. The real loser is RBC in this" (Myrtle Beach SUN NEWS, 4/21).
BORN ON THE BAYOU: This year marks the 11th straight year that Zurich Insurance has sponsored the PGA Tour's annual stop in New Orleans, and Zurich CEO Martin Senn said, "It’s a very good feeling, very gratifying. Obviously it is an opportunity for us to bring many customers and employees together, our stakeholders who truly love golf not only in the United States but all over the world. It allows us to build relationships and links us professionally with our customers. And it also shows our commitment to the community" (Scott Rabalais, Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 4/21).
