The boom of the “Ryder Cup” (which ruins Rome)

Rome is on the run between related industries, tourism and media exposure thanks to the third sporting event in the world. After the Olympics and the football World Cup, there is the golf Ryder Cup. A tournament with an ancient and unique charm that also has a strong geopolitical meaning. Europe (finally united also with the large representation of the United Kingdom) on the courses of the Marco Simone Golf Club in Guidonia to challenge the 12 American champions including the number one in the ranking Scottie Scheffler.

Induced, it was said. Kpmg has estimated direct impacts of between 550 million and one billion euros and the same from indirect ones. So, we are on nine-figure figures, not bad if you consider that the entire global golf movement churns out 60 billion a year. The overall project will have a duration of twelve years (2016-2027) and will develop over 37 main events. The starting point was a loan of 160 million with the Italian State, which had initially financed 60 and which will have an estimated return of almost double from taxation. And then the 7,500 people who work on the event in addition to the 1,250 volunteers.

Tourism, with a Rome that has redone its make-up in its historic areas and even on Via Tiburtina, finally with two lanes on each side after years, where there is the headquarters of the club most envied by others in the world, in particular by the Spanish one from whom he took over the organization of the event. The works completed in record time then overlapped with the construction sites opened in view of the more religious than secular event, the Jubilee of 2025. From the Roman holes to the sports holes of the Marco Simone green, which has structured its course to suit the event, an event that will be able to count on 250 thousand spectators (an average therefore of 50 thousand per day, almost five thousand already present at hole 1 yesterday for the show of sporting and non-sporting celebrities) who will flock until Sunday – the day of the awarding of the trophy 50 centimeters high but all gold – spaces and stands to watch the challenge. In short, hotels sold out like the tickets for the event already two years ago during the booking phase and prices skyrocketed (for a room you can reach up to 800 euros per night)

Media exposure, with Rai and Sky broadcasting hours of live broadcast for Italians who are not particularly interested in the event (golf remains an elite discipline from this point of view) but in general 39 broadcasters from all over the world and over 900 accredited at the equipped Media Center from giant screens that allow you to follow the green competitions with statistics and news always updated on the daily program. Even Mickey Mouse, in this week’s issue, paid homage to the event with a story featuring Uncle Scrooge between 5 irons and more or less successful shots.

Europe against the USA, a challenge always fought with birdies and drives with an almost centenary history, given that the first time was in the USA in 1927 and at the time they were the only British to cross the ocean. This year there was also no lack of involvement, on the green of Guidonia, of champions from other disciplines, such as Shevchenko, increasingly committed to his Ukraine and already protagonist of other charity events on the green, or Djokovic, who passed with ease from the balls from tennis to those of golf and the Sainz “very buttoned up” in the words about his Ferrari but determined between the holes with some accidents along the way (see shots in the grass or on the sand) amidst smiles and thunderous applause from the public. Because the Ryder Cup, beyond the numbers, is above all entertainment.

This article is originally published on ilgiornale.it