Ryder Cup teams up with Sheffield Hallam University

RYDER Cup Europe has appointed Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) to undertake the economic impact and benefits study of the next Ryder Cup.
 
SIRC has a proven track record of undertaking economic impact studies for major sporting events including Wimbledon, the London Marathon and the Tour de France Grand Départ.

In golf the university’s unique eventIMPACTS model has been used to assess the financial benefits of the Open Championship in Scotland, the Irish Open, the Women’s British Open and The Curtis Cup and now one of golf’s biggest attractions, the biennual meeting of the US and Europe, which will take place at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland from September 26 to 28, 2014
 
Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup director, said: “Assessing the economic impact of The Ryder Cup is of huge importance and we are confident that SIRC’s extensive research and proven methodology will highlight the value of investing in this great event to our host nation, our host venue and event partners.”

Professor Simon Shibli, director of SIRC, said: “After the brilliant recent editions of The Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in 2010 and last year at Medinah, we welcome this opportunity to work with Ryder Cup Europe on another iconic event. Whilst spectators and television viewers see an awesome spectacle, behind the scenes there are significant economic and wider legacy benefits. We plan to measure these and to demonstrate the event’s value to Scotland and its economy.”
 
The eventIMPACTS method was devised by SIRC (and partners, including EventScotland) and is now considered one of the industry’s most comprehensive models for assessing an event’s effect on local, regional and national economies. 
 
The model will see SIRC gathering information from the broadest possible cross section of parties involved in The Ryder Cup, which .
 
These include spectators at the event and post event; companies involved in staging and running the event; local businesses and local authorities servicing the event; and media and volunteers working at the event.
 
Paul Bush, chief operating officer of EventScotland, who are working with Ryder Cup Europe and The Gleneagles Hotel to deliver the event in 2014, added: “The economic impact and legacy benefits of major events is now a key driver for countries looking to bid for events. No longer is it good enough just to put on a great show and leave it at that – we have to show the benefit it has brought to the country and I am delighted that SIRC, an organisation with a proven track record in this field, has been appointed by RCE.
 
“Our team at EventScotland played a key role in helping devise the eventIMPACTS method so I know how robust it is and we can be sure of a rigorous and comprehensive study to assess the impact of the 2014 Ryder Cup on Scotland.”
 
The legacy of The Ryder Cup – which will have a significant effect on the Scottish and UK economies – will also be measured, taking into account charitable causes, transport infrastructure, golf participation, golf venues and businesses among others.
 
The final report will be available once The 2014 Ryder Cup is concluded.