Posted on 06/04/2016 7:37:26 AM PDT by Sean_Anthony
A Brave New World": Commissioners of sports leagues are just as infected as the leaders of media, business, government, higher education and the other pillars of our society
After five decades, the World Golf Championship will move next year from the National Doral golf course in Miami, Florida to a golf course in Mexico City. Since the Doral course is owned by the certain GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, this decision smacks of political correctness.
At least most objective observers would surmise that politics played a role in this decision; however, such a motive was denied by PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem, who claimed that the tournament was unable to line up enough financial backers. According to Finchem, It is a sponsorship issue. We value dollars for our players. So we make decisions that are in the best interests of our players.
The PGA doesn’t really care about the fans on the course. They care about the TV revenue and the corporate sponsorships. The corporate sponsors erect posh pavilions, fly in their big clients and wine and dine them during the tournament. Someone has already written the big check to do that in Mexico City, so it will go forward. I think that someone made a bad decision, but the PGA Tour will follow the money wherever it goes.
Carlos slim write the check?
“The PGA as far as I am concerned is a Traitor and I hope this backfires on them badly.”
I do too. IMHO a bad move by the PGA.
PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem worked for Democrat Jimmy Carter.
lol
Not to Mexico if they love them.
They will probably blame it on Trump.
I beg to differ.
I am currently working with the PGA for the Ryder Cup in Minneapolis. To say they don’t really care about the fans on the course is not an honest statement. They spend months just trying to set up grandstands so all fans get a great view. They work their butts off for a year or more lining up food, Bev, parking, etc just so the fans walk away with a great experience.
The PGA wants nothing more than to impress the fans that show up at the course. They want them to come back. And they want them to invest I. The sport by playing the expensive game.
What you said could not be any further from the truth.
“The PGA as far as I am concerned is a Traitor and I hope this backfires on them badly.
It won’t. They hold many games in Mexico City. All of which are successful. They will be fine without Doral and trump.
“Hope some of the major players boycott the tournament. Just refuse to put themselves at risk in the banana republic south of the border.”
This was posted on another thread as well and the response was an overwhelming “No”. The players are happy with the decision. They have been fighting for a different venue for years. Doral has run its course. The players have not been a fan for many years. They appreciate the effort trump put into it but it was way too little, way too late.
Again, the players are happy with the decision.
I could have said this better. They certainly take very good care of the patrons at the venues and work hard to give them a great experience. But, that’s not where the money comes from. The efforts by the clubs, the staff, and the volunteers pay off with a great event that is what the TV viewers see. That is very much a part of the product that they are showing, But, without a TV contract and a sponsor, the tour would revert to what it was 50 years ago.
The Grupo Salinas deal is reportedly valued at $16 million a year, roughly double what Cadillac was willing to pay for Doral. Cadillac’s offer barely covered the prize purse.
PGA doing the art of the deal. Nothing new. Money talks for sponsorships. Cadillac didn’t think it was worth that much any more, poor ROI.
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