Ryder Cup

Just wondering about the influence of the upcoming Ryder Cup on local restaurant business. Will it compare to the Kentucky Derby or perhaps will it be bigger?

[Robin Garr]

Just wondering about the influence of the upcoming Ryder Cup on local restaurant business. Will it compare to the Kentucky Derby or perhaps will it be bigger?

Maybe I'm just underwhelmed by golf, but while this is a big deal, I've got my doubts that it will approach anything close to Derby.

Still, it can't HURT our local eateries to have all these presumably well-heeled golfers and fans in town, and I've noticed that our LouisvilleHotBytes.com traffic is picking up a bit - much as it does in the weeks before Derby - with hits from out-of-town folks exploring the Louisville eats scene.

Robin - From what I have been told, I think the Ryder Cup may just be the biggest event that Louisville has EVER seen... and could be way bigger than the Derby. Here is some data...

http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/brows ... ord-amount

The last 2006 Ryder Cup had an economic impact of over $200 million USD in Ireland - and was up over 30% from the 2002 Cup...

Golf is much more popular than horse racing - so we will see. I live 5 minutes from Valhalla, and am planning on completing ALL of my shopping two weeks prior to the event..... And I am not a huge golf fan either...

My 2 cents....

Anthony

Mirroring Anthony's post, I think we'll probably see more restaurant business during that week than during Derby and Oaks. I know most of the hotels are already sold out and they expect over 40,000 people per day to attend each of the five days for the event. What kind of business did the restaurants see for the PGA championship and the Seniors open? What ever it was, the Ryder Cup should bring in much more.

I came to the same conclusion of that Robin was alluding to (I think.) Here's why:

During Derby, the hospitality infrastructure is stretched almost to its limits. This isn't the Olympics, and to the best of my knowledge, no massive public works projects have been undertaken to handle the tide of humanity this event is supposed to bring. You can only process a certain number of people at any time. Regardless of actual turnout, the excess (if any,) will have to go on a wait, so to speak. Call me a bright- eyed optimist, but wouldn't the tournament's organizers have already calculated the city's capacity? And for us to have won the bid, wouldn't we have had to expand if they felt their event was any bigger than the Derby?

And on to the unexpected... No Tiger. Knock that original number down by 10%, at least. It will be said numerous times that the turnout will be weaker than originally expected.

What I find interesting is that very little mention has been made about communicating tipping customs. In Orlando, incoming flights have a brochure that informs international guests how to tip appropriately in America. I have seen check presenter inserts that read something like, 'so you enjoyed your service...' I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to consider how they will address this. The guest, unless informed, will honestly feel they are paying a compliment because in their country servers make $15/ hour. For those in the business, have you ever seen the reaction of a server that gets 10%, when 20% was appropriate? Multiply that by 10 and let it stretch over (however long our international friends plan on being here.) No bueno.

I would think that the average Derby visitor shows up with less in his/her pocket than someone coming in town for the Ryder Cup. Plus, a lot of the money in their pocket is ear marked for gambling and spending AT the track. I think the Ryder cup may put more dollars around the community overall.

[Robin Garr]

I would think that the average Derby visitor shows up with less in his/her pocket than someone coming in town for the Ryder Cup. Plus, a lot of the money in their pocket is ear marked for gambling and spending AT the track. I think the Ryder cup may put more dollars around the community overall.

Let's all agree on this: The Ryder Cup sure can't HURT!

Now, what can we as consumers and HotBytes folks do to help herd some of these money-packing visitors to Louisville's great independent restaurants?

There have been highway signs posted on 64, and 71 for months and months. The Governor, and Mayor worked hard on bringing the Cup to Louisville, Golfing folks would kill to play the Valhalla Course, Louisville itself is a huge golfing community, and Leroy Neiman was commissioned to do a piece for the cup. (like he did for Derby).

I am hosting twelve people from Switzerland for the Ryder Cup.

That to me is a big deal!!!

Go Louisville!

i know that someone rented out Jeff Ruby's 2 nights. The entire place.

I think restaurants will experience the same kind of business as they did with the Breeder's Cup a few years back and that wasn't shabby at all.

I have a feeling that Louisville residents will be blown away with the impact Ryder Cup will have on our city. I've been lucky enough to be a part of the behind-the-scenes action, helping to plan to events for Cup Village at Fourth Street Live. It almost seems like the CJ should start a small weekly (or even daily) column with details of special announcements or even facts about what is going on that week, and what the Ryder Cup even is. Not everyone is a golf fan, but when you read into the history of this event, you see what a compliment it is that we are hosting it.

Just a few points to give you an idea of it's reach:

- I know of two downtown hotels that have been sold out for over two years during Ryder Cup week.

- The 2000 PGA Championship sold 33,000 weeklong passes, and Ryder Cup is expected to sell over 210,000.

- NBC will be airing coverage of the event to 77 countries, with an estimated 545 million viewers. This kind of coverage will bring world-wide attention to Louisville - highlighting what we have to offer, which in turn will bring more conventions and increase tourism.

This is the type of event that makes the energy level in Louisville rise, and I think we all thrive on that.

It is my belief that the Ryder Cup, is a much more worldly event than the Kentucky Derby. The absence of Tiger Woods is only going to slightly shrink the world wide audience that will be here in attendance, and watching on TV. I sincerely hope independant restuarants are so busy, that my only option is to order carryout.

It is my belief that the Ryder Cup, is a much more worldly event than the Kentucky Derby. The absence of Tiger Woods is only going to slightly shrink the world wide audience that will be here in attendance, and watching on TV. I sincerely hope independant restuarants are so busy, that my only option is to order carryout.

My mouth just started watering...

It's not food related, but I can tell you that the B&Bs in town, including mine are not full.

[Robin Garr]

It's not food related, but I can tell you that the B&Bs in town, including mine are not full.

I don't think we're looking at a demographic here that thinks of B&Bs first, Leah ...

I think this says it all.

https://2008tasteoflville.theregistrati ... /index/320

http://www.thecupexperience.com/events-schedule.html

http://www.gotolouisville.com/content.aspx?id=3886


The city of Louisville is ready to host the 2008 Ryder Cup. A special committee of the Governor of Kentucky and the Mayor of Louisville are hard at work planning the events that will surround the world’s most prestigious golf tournament and an enormous digital clock in the city’s main entertainment district ticks off the hours until the golf fans arrive.

Paul Azinger, a former PGA champion who has played in four Ryder Cup tournaments, has been named U.S. captain of the 2008 Ryder Cup by the PGA of America.

The Ryder Cup, one of professional golf's top international competitions, will be held at Louisville's Valhalla Golf Club, 15503 Shelbyville Road, Sept. 16-21, 2008. The competition matches a team of U.S. golfers against a European team and is held every two years.

The Ryder Cup, which pairs 12 of the top American golfers against 12 of their European counterparts, is expected to draw the highest attendance ever for a sporting event held in Kentucky.

The Ryder Cup is expected to draw more than 210,000 spectators to Valhalla during its six days of practice rounds and competition and reach an estimated economic impact of $115 million in Greater Louisville. More than 25 hours of live coverage is planned, reaching over 545 million viewers in 177 countries. Media credentials will be issued to more than 1,500 reporters and commentators from around the world. The United States last hosted the Ryder Cup in 2004 at Oakland Hills Country Club, near Detroit.