Now weeks into 2022, the focus begins to shift to the Ponte Vedra Beach’s most marquee event, THE PLAYERS.
Tournament vice president and executive director Jared Rice was the guest speaker at the Jan. 12 Chamber at Noon event, which was hosted by both the St. Johns County and Jacksonville Chambers of Commerce.
He talked to the crowd in attendance at the Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant in Jacksonville Beach about the excitement surrounding the current plan for this year’s event.
“This tournament is the flagship and the gold standard for our tour,” Rice said.
Despite the viewing audience remaining steady throughout the pandemic, with 215 countries and territories receiving event programming, Rice acknowledged that the last couple of years were rough and presented unique challenges for all involved.
It started with the 2020 championship, which was taking place when many sport leagues across the nation began shutting down due to the concern revolving around the COVID-19. As a result, that year’s event was cancelled.
“I think everyone knows where they were on March 12, 2020,” Rice said.
The championship was back in 2021, but procedures were in place with safety in mind including having a limited capacity of fans. Despite the challenges, the tournament went off as usual and was a success.
“Internally, it was widely viewed as our finest hour,” Rice said.
However, Rice is anxious for what 2022 will hold and it will start and end with the inclusion of more fans.
“We all trust it will be an uncapped environment,” Rice said. “But we have also shown we are flexible, and health and safety will always be in mind.”
According to Rice, the festivities during the week leading up to tournament play will once again take place this year, with military members honored Tuesday along with a concert staring a country musician that will be named in the coming days.
This year’s military appreciation theme will center around “women in the military.”
In turn, he expects the championship to provide the local economic impact that had become accustomed before the pandemic.
The pre-pandemic economic impact figures on Northeast Florida included $212 million brought in annually to the area, as well as $115 million of off-site spending from event attendees.
“We expect to get back to those levels,” Rice said.
From a business perspective the tournament brings an array of opportunities with more than 500 businesses on-site seeking to reach out to local, national and international markets.
Tournament Chairman Matt Welch was also on hand to speak to the Chambers about the initiatives THE PLAYERS does to give back to local charities.
“It’s much more than just a golf tournament,” Welch said. “The money it raises stays within the five-county area.”
According to Welch, since its inception THE PLAYERS has helped support 300-plus charities that benefit local residents.
The amount of money donated is one of the things he is most proud of from all the success the tournament has had.
“We don’t just write checks but go out and help the charities get where they want to be,” Welch said. “By coming out to the tournament and supporting it, you are playing a part.”
Tickets for this year’s championship are now on sale at THEPLAYERS.com/tickets with parking sold separately. A new parking pass will be needed each day.
One of the neat changes this year is the implementation of allowing up to two children ages 15 and under with a ticketed adult.
According to Rice, the goal behind it is to continue to promote the game of golf to the next generation.
