RBC Canadian Open Sees Crowds Swell With Move To June

Rory McIlroy won the PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in "runaway" fashion. Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum said that depending on walk-up numbers from yesterday's final round, "total spectators for the week will approach 120,000, with a nearly 300% increase in general ticket sales." With the event's new early June date and a new "Summer's Open" slogan, organizers "wanted a festival feel and they certainly achieved it." There were "two concerts held on-site." Friday’s Florida Georgia Line show "drew a staggering 15,000 fans and likely played a role in a noticeable change in demographics" (TORONTO SUN, 6/10).

The tournament was an "overwhelming success," between the "food, the music, the field and McIlroy's incredible debut." Officials reported a 200% increase in "corporate hospitality sales" and a 200% uptick in beer sales (HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 6/10).