Sure, there’s Rickie, Jordan, Rory and the remaining top echelon of world-class golf playing on an international stage.
But for many in Northeast Florida, The Players Championship is a long weekend — nearly a week including two days of pre-tournament activities — dedicated to developing and cultivating business relationships.
Tournament officials say more than 400 local, national and international companies use the event as a relationship-building opportunity.
You could say the Players is the Super Bowl of business networking. As the week progresses, many offices are moved — virtually, at least — to the golf course.
“You see a mass exodus from town out to the Players during that week,” said BB&T Bank Market President Debbie Buckland. “Certainly, you wouldn’t see such a level of participation if the ROI (return on investment) wasn’t there.”
The tournament is May 12-15.
BB&T hosts about 100 current and prospective clients each year at an economic forum breakfast the day before the tournament.
This year, the bank will have a hospitality venue near the Stadium Course’s illustrious 17th green.
“We believe the tournament is the ultimate platform for business development and entertainment,” Buckland said.
She said BB&T prepares for the tournament to maximize the company’s volunteer contributions and business opportunities.
“And for a lot of us, the fun is putting our clients together, because they can help each other, too,” she said.
There’s another way Northeast Florida businesses benefit from the Players: By providing goods and services for event.
Miller Electric Co. has been doing that since 1977, managing the tournaments electrical operations.
CEO Henry Brown’s grandfather, H.E. “Buck” Autrey, had a role in the Players’ move from Fort Lauderdale to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977.
As the 88-year-old company grew into one of the United States’ largest electrical contractors, Miller executives began entertaining existing and prospective customers at the tournament.
“The Players gives us a unique opportunity to bring in our clients from around the country and not only provide them entertainment in such a great venue, but to showcase our work and our services,” Brown said.
At a news conference Wednesday outside the JAX Chamber, Buckland, Brown, Rapp and JAX Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis lauded the Players’ relationships with Northeast Florida businesses.
“Even though it has become an international event, the Players has continued to utilize regional companies, which really shows how much the Players cares about the local community and the companies within it,” Davis said.
Also leveraging the Players is JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of the chamber.
JAXUSA partners with Enterprise Florida, St. Johns County and the City of Jacksonville to host executives and consultants at Sawgrass.
Rapp said businesses interested in supporting the Players through sponsorships may contact the tournament’s sales and marketing office or the JAX Chamber. Current sponsors are available to provide tours and answer questions, he said.
As the Players showcases Northeast Florida to national and international visitors, the tournament’s worldwide media coverage is icing on the cake.
Rapp said the tournament drew more than 1,100 credentialed media in 2015 and its television distribution is the largest on the PGA Tour.
“We want people to think about this event as a showcase of Northeast Florida to the world,” he said.
Proceeds from the Players, including a record $8.1 million in 2015, benefit Northeast Florida charities.
“We generate money for charity, but we are not a charity,” Rapp said. “We are selling a product that is very good for business.”
As part of the event’s estimated $151 million annual local economic impact, about 2,000 people work at the tournament, Rapp said.