Roselle tries to find out what Ryder Cup is worth
Roselle leaders know the 39th annual Ryder Cup will affect their town when it comes to the Medinah Country Club next year. But on Monday they debated just how big its impact will be — and how much they should invest and prepare.
Roselle is part of an unofficial consortium formed recently by communities surrounding the country, all hoping to maximize financial benefits from the golf event that is set for Sept. 25-30, 2012. It encompasses Roselle, Itasca, Bloomingdale, Addison, Glendale Heights and Wood Dale.
During a committee meeting Monday, Village President Gayle Smolinski said the group is considering having each town pay approximately $5,000 to contribute to marketing materials that will help promote their businesses to more than 40,000 attendees expected daily at the tournament.
If this comes to fruition, the money would come from Roselle’s hotel tax revenues, which can only be used to promote tourism under state statute. Funds would be spent on promotional materials for local businesses such as signage and a restaurant directory for tourists.
“People who are there on Medinah Road should know they can go one block in and have access to our downtown and all of our restaurants,” Smolinski said.
The idea sparked a debate among trustees about other ways to finance the $5,000, including donations from businesses poised to benefit; whether to spend money sprucing up the village for visitors; and if it’s wise to approach the PGA about reimbursing the village for any police overtime needed for the event.
Roselle Police Chief James Kruger said local police are not currently slated to help with event detail, and only Illinois State Police and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department are assigned to the Ryder Cup. But he does anticipate some traffic control measures.
He added that because of the international appeal, and the likelihood that the tournament will even draw world leaders and their security teams, the event could be both a boon and extra work for Roselle as a whole.
“This is on the same scale as the Super Bowl or the World Series,” Kruger said.
Village leaders expressed hopes that the Ryder Cup will draw visitors to sites like Lynfred Winery, Impecca Restaurant and stays at the Country Inn and Suites on Lake Street and Gary Avenue. But Smolinski also noted that the Country Inn is not currently listed as a hotel option on the Ryder Cup website, and maybe more effort needs to be put forth to capture tourist dollars.
“(Bloomingdale Village President) Bob Iden said Indian Lakes is all booked. Itasca says they are booked up and Glendale Heights is seeing an upswing, but Country Inn and Suites not booked at all,” Smolinski said. “Do people not know? I have a concern of how to capitalize on this.”
The village board took no vote on the consortium fee Monday, but will discuss it again at future meetings and village staff will continue to attend consortium meetings as well.