A golf tournament two weeks away at Medinah Country Club is projected to pump $175 million into DuPage County's economy.
The Presidents Cup, scheduled Sept. 24-27, would top the $135 million the last U.S.-hosted event produced in Charlotte in 2022, tournament Executive Director Joie Chitwood III told the Chicago Tribune. About 200,000 visitors are expected to attend, according to DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Beth Marchetti.
Medinah Country Club sits in unincorporated DuPage County near Itasca, Roselle and Bloomingdale. No Naperville-specific revenue projections have been released, but tourism officials across the suburbs are mobilizing to capture visitor dollars before, during and after the four-day competition.
"We know we'll easily get $3 million just in hotel revenue alone," said Heather Larson, president and CEO of Meet Chicago Northwest, the tourism bureau representing eight suburbs near the course.
Marchetti said international golf travelers spend about eight times as much as domestic visitors. With the Presidents Cup drawing fans from around the world for the first time in the Chicago area, she projected one of the largest economic impacts the county has seen.
The event marks a historic first. Medinah will become the only club to have hosted a U.S. Open (1990), PGA Championship (2006), Ryder Cup (2012) and Presidents Cup. The 16th edition of the biennial competition features 12 U.S. players captained by Brandt Snedeker against 12 non-European international players led by Geoff Ogilvy.
DuPage Airport Authority Executive Director Mark Doles said he does not yet know how much additional air traffic the tournament will bring but said his team is ready. Corporate sponsors and some attendees are expected to fly into DuPage Airport.
Tournament organizers have partnered with Chicago-area restaurants to give the event regional flavor, Chicago Golf Report reported. The Presidents Cup also announced a $150,000 donation, in partnership with the George and Cindy Rusu Family Foundation, to Metropolitan Family Services.
