According to an article last year in the San Diego Business Journal, the USGA based the economic impact of the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines to be $124 million. Included in that economic impact are hotel accommodations, local transportation, dining, entertainment and souvenir sales.
The USGA estimated that figure from the impact at the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
In five years, the economic impact for this area will be even more because of the two events.
“There will definitely be an opportunity for the people in Richmond County,” Richmond County Economic Development Director Rick Sago said. “When you have events like this, it impacts the entire region.”
The San Diego Business Journal article said the USGA was expected to occupy 8,500 hotel rooms during the week for staff members, players and some media.
In addition, the tournament drew nearly 300,000 patrons not including the Monday playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate. Nearly 60 percent of those in attendance were from outside San Diego.
Using these figures, approximately 180,000 fans will be looking for hotel rooms during the men’s tournament if the attendance in 2014 stays the same as the 2008 event. Granted not all fans will be staying in hotels that week, as many of the tournament attendees will be only passing through Richmond County on their way to Pinehurst.
“There is overall excitement to having the world’s greatest golfers in Pinehurst,” Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin said. “There are definitely opportunities out there, whether it is staying in our hotel rooms or eating in our restaurants.”
McLaurin knows it is early to be planning for an event five years out, but foresees two of the major attractions in the county using the tournaments to garner interest.
“I think Rockingham Speedway and Rockingham Dragway could develop some events around it (the tournaments),” McLaurin said. “This way some fans who may come down early and extend their stay can see some of the benefits a few miles to the south.”
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