Medinah, suburbs anticipating massive economic impact from Presidents Cup
The PGA Tour’s Presidents Cup tournament coming to Medinah Country Club this month could have a $175 million economic impact for the region, according to the man who’s been overseeing its preparation for the past 3½ years.
And a great part of that will be felt in the suburbs surrounding Medinah, where out-of-town visitors will stay, dine and occupy their free time with some golfing or other recreational activities of their own, tournament Executive Director Joie Chitwood III said.
The 32-year-old tournament that pits a team of 12 U.S. golfers against 12 non-European international players has been steadily growing in popularity and economic might, according to Chitwood.
The last U.S.-based tournament, in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2022, generated a then-record $135 million economic impact, he said. And the 2024 tournament in Montreal was the largest among the foreign host sites, Chitwood said.
This year’s event, set for Sept. 24-27, is in a market with stronger international appeal, he added. The beauty of the Medinah setting combined with the Chicago region contributes to the “1+1=3” dynamic that’s expected.
“This is as good a sports market as you could ask for,” Chitwood said. “I think we’re going to be the biggest event in our 30-year history. I think it’s going to be just energetic, passionate.”
Among the cooperating tourism bureaus paving the way are Schaumburg-based Meet Chicago Northwest, the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Chicago Sports Commission. Other organizations like the Schaumburg Business Association are promoting the event.
“I think everyone’s working together,” SBA President Andrea Biwer said. “We’re just excited to be on the world stage. We have over 600 restaurants in Schaumburg alone — and of every type. And from a business community point of view, we have so many businesses with golf enthusiasts.”
Meet Chicago Northwest represents eight Northwest suburbs, including Medinah neighbors Itasca and Roselle, noted its President & CEO Heather Larson.
She touted area attractions such as Topgolf, the PGA Tour Superstore, numerous golf courses, Woodfield Mall and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games.
“We know we’ll easily get $3 million just in hotel revenue alone,” Larson said. “It’s just a great way for us to spotlight the Northwest suburbs. It’s a great place to host events.”
DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Beth Marchetti said area residents should be proud that Medinah Country Club will be the first golf course to have hosted a U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
About 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the history-making tournament, and they’ll be spending money on everything from hotels to restaurants to stores, she said.
If that’s not enough, international travelers statistically spend about four times as much — and international golf travelers in particular about eight times as much — as domestic visitors, Marchetti added.
“I think we’re going to walk away with one of the biggest economic impacts we’ve ever had,” she said.
Even with years of preparation, some aspects of the tournament remain undecided until the final month. The players, for instance, were announced only last week.
Along those lines, DuPage Airport Authority Executive Director Mark Doles doesn’t yet know exactly how much additional traffic his nearby airport will see — only that he’s prepared for any amount.
He’s expecting some corporate sponsors and attendees, but the players themselves are among the unknowns. People decide where they’re staying and for how long before they choose an airport, Doles said.
He and Chitwood acknowledge that downtown Chicago will also get a piece of the action and spread the economic impact of the Presidents Cup to the entire region.
“We’re ramped up and ready for whatever the event provides us,” Doles added. “We hope that everyone comes through DuPage and stays in DuPage.”
epeterson@dailyherald.com