The Ryder Cup of 2023 held at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome boosted economic activity in Italy by 262 million euros, according to an independent report. The figure, a record for a Ryder Cup held in Europe, represents an increase of 11% compared to the 235 million euros generated in 2018, when the biennial competition was held at Le Golf National in Paris, in France.
Researchers from the Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at Sheffield Hallam University took into account the spending of all spectators and other attendees at the event, as well as all organisational spending, including that of the Italian Golf Federation (FIG) on improving the course and infrastructure, as well as other indirect or induced expenses.
More than 271,000 people from 100 different countries attended last year’s competition at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, where Europe, led by captain Luke Donald, reclaimed the Ryder Cup with a 16½ -11½ victory against United States. It was the first time the Ryder Cup was held in Italy, which became the third continental European country to host the biennial competition, after Spain in 1997 and France in 2018.
Other key data from the report include:
· Spectators who stayed in Rome during the week of the Ryder Cup generated over 318,000 commercial overnight stays, which represented an income of 34 million euros for the local accommodation sector.
· Spectator spending unrelated to accommodation amounted to 72 million euros.
· Around 19% of visitors to Rome decided to extend their visit before or after the event.
· Nearly two-thirds of international spectators who visited the country for the event expressed their desire to return to Italy for leisure purposes the following year, driven by their experience at the Ryder Cup.
The report concluded that: “Ultimately, an event responsible for 262 million euros of economic activity in Italy is testament to the time and resources dedicated to delivering such a memorable sporting spectacle. These results confirm the decision to award the Ryder Cup to Rome.”
Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the European Tour Group, has stated: “The figures highlighted in this independent report on economic impact demonstrate the great benefits that the Ryder Cup brings to a host country through spectator and visitor spending, as well as a lasting legacy”.
“From a sporting and fan engagement perspective, Rome 2023 has already gone down in history as one of the best Ryder Cup ever. We can now confidently conclude that the 2023 competition at Marco Simone also generated record financial rewards, providing a significant direct boost to the economy of Rome and Italy”, he added.
“Therefore, we would like to thank the Italian Government and the Italian Golf Federation for their bold vision in helping to bring one of the world’s major sporting events to Italy for the first time. I would also like to acknowledge two magnificent teams: The European Team led by Luke Donald, who put on such a wonderful performance inside the ropes, and the entire Ryder Cup Europe team, who worked tirelessly in all facets outside the ropes to deliver the best Ryder Cup ever played in Europe“, he concluded.
The team from Sheffield Hallam University used the same approach compatible with eventIMPACTS.com previously used in Scotland (2014) and France (2018) to estimate the direct economic impact of the 2023 match on three geographical levels -Rome, Lazio and Italy-, as well as the wider economic activity supported by the event.
The Ryder Cup of 2025 will be held in the United States of America, at Bethpage Black, New York, and Adare Manor Resort, in Ireland, will host the next edition in Europe, in 2027, when the Ryder Cup will celebrate its centenary.
