Explore Minnesota Heads To Scotland for Ryder Cup
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The 40th Ryder Cup is one of the biggest events in golf, and it kicks off on Friday at Gleneagles in Edinburgh, Scotland.
And Explore Minnesota is making sure our state has a presence there.
Bill Von Bank with Explore Minnesota flew across the pond to promote the big tournament that will make its way to Minnesota in 2016.
The 41st Ryder Cup will be held in Chaska, Minn. at the Hazeltine National Golf Club.
"We're here as a partnership with Greater MSP, local tourism organizations like Meet Minneapolis, Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit St. Paul, folks from the City of Chaska, Hazeltine, the PGA.," Von Bank said. "We're all here promoting Ryder Cup 2016."
Von Bank says being in Scotland gives them a great opportunity to meet visitors that will travel to our state in 2016.
More than 55,000 fans are expected to show up each day at Gleneagles for the three-day tournament.
Edinburgh airport officials say a total of 150 private jets are flying in to watch the game.
"These are passionate people about golf," Von Bank said. "And they're going to travel really anywhere to see great golf."
Explore Minnesota says each community that has hosted the tournament has seen a great economic impact, much like the All-Star Game which Minneapolis hosted this past summer
"Some of the past numbers were $115 million to $129 million … up to $200 million for past communities that have hosted it," he said. "We can definitely expect the same."
The last Ryder Cup tournament in 2012 was held in Medinah, Ill.
Team USA has only won two of the last seven tournaments.