R&A agrees to deal to hold major championships in Scotland as part of 11-year agreement

The R&A has agreed to a caller 11-year business pinch nan Scottish Government and VisitScotland for staging awesome play championships successful Scotland.

The R&A, nan Scottish Government and VisitScotland will lend a mixed $14 cardinal towards staging The Open, AIG Women’s Open and nan Senior Open successful Scotland betwixt 2024 and 2034.

The finance successful nan championships “will thrust tourism and showcase Scotland arsenic a world-class shape for awesome events, arsenic good arsenic delivering important economical and societal benefits to nan state and nan big regions”, The R&A said.

A full of 14 championships will beryllium held successful Scotland crossed various venues during nan word of nan partnership.

The announcement coincides pinch nan results of an independent study commissioned by The R&A which show that The 152nd Open astatine Royal Troon – attended by a record-breaking 258,174 fans successful July – generated almost $400 cardinal successful full economical use for Scotland.

The Championship provided a full economical effect of $110 cardinal to Scotland, according to nan study conducted by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC).

Independent investigation led by YouGov Sport besides showed that $280 cardinal of destination trading use was delivered for Scotland arsenic a consequence of it being broadcast worldwide done linear tv and integer platforms.

The figures bring nan full economical use generated by nan 10 stagings of The Open successful Scotland since 2005 to $1.76 billion. More than 2 cardinal fans person attended successful that time, including 250,000 from overseas, while The R&A’s Kids Go Free inaugural has resulted successful 230,000 young group nether nan property of 16 being capable to entree tickets astatine nary cost.

As good arsenic bringing economical benefits and world floor plan to Scotland, The R&A said that nan statement will besides “help thrust affirmative societal impacts for nan state done nan transportation of inclusive and responsible events, which are cardinal privilege areas outlined successful nan nationalist events strategy: Scotland nan Perfect Stage 2024-2035.”

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “The business pinch nan Scottish Government and VisitScotland ensures continuing support for staging our championships astatine renowned venues astir nan country, reinforcing Scotland’s world estimation arsenic nan location of play and for providing a world-class shape for hosting awesome sporting events.

“Independent studies person proven that awesome title play delivers important economical benefits to Scotland by driving tourism, showcasing nan state to a world assemblage and generating income for section communities and businesses. The results produced by The 152nd Open astatine Royal Troon reenforce this and we look guardant to moving pinch our partners successful authorities complete nan adjacent 10 years to shape a number of outstanding awesome championships successful Scotland.”

Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead, said: “Golf is intertwined pinch Scotland’s identity, system and world reputation. This statement ensures immoderate of nan world’s astir prestigious golfing events are hosted successful Scotland until astatine slightest 2034.

“The R&A’s championships bring thousands of visitors to wherever they are hosted. Research shows that nan astir caller Open, held successful Troon, brought millions of pounds to nan section economy, providing a transformational boost to businesses and communities. So, it is captious we proceed to maximize Scotland’s estimation arsenic nan location of play to unafraid nan important economical effect associated pinch these championships.

“And these events showcase Scotland connected nan world stage, highlighting nan varied scenery and sporting excellence Scotland offers.”

Rob Dickson, VisitScotland Director of Industry and Events, added: “Golf events person a important economical and societal effect successful Scotland. As portion of nan country’s divers portfolio of sporting and taste events, they showcase Scotland’s earthy beauty and world-class golfing practice to a worldwide assemblage while supporting nan system by driving visitant numbers and creating jobs.

“The business pinch The R&A and Scottish Government to unafraid this pipeline of awesome championships complete 11 years, will reenforce Scotland’s position arsenic a world-leading tourism and events destination.”

Director of nan Sport Industry Research astatine Sheffield Hallam University, Professor Simon Shibli, said: “We were delighted to return to Royal Troon for The 152nd Open, pursuing our first economical effect study astatine nan people successful 2016. In nan intervening years, spectator numbers person accrued significantly, arsenic has their spending successful South Ayrshire and Scotland much widely. It is hugely rewarding to spot investigation penetration being utilized efficaciously to maximize nan economical use of The Open for its big communities.”

The economical effect study for The 152nd Open astatine Royal Troon concluded that Ayrshire unsocial received a $56.7 cardinal injection of caller money arsenic tens of thousands of visitors traveled to nan region to be nan Championship.

Over half of nan spectators who attended The Open (51.1%) traveled from extracurricular of Scotland. Nearly 10% of spectators had traveled from nan United States of America.

Prior to this year, 68% of surveyed spectators had attended astatine slightest 1 Open before, while 55% had attended an Open since 2012.