by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
After the first-ever The Players Downtown Experience last May, Players Championship Executive Director Brian Goin told the Daily Record he felt having the Friday evening event on the banks of the St. Johns River miles away from the Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra helped “elevate the event and the tournament.” He also said, “I hope it’s something we can grow on. We’ve got to keep it going.”
Turns out Goin was right on target. The 2008 Players Downtown Experience has grown into a four-day celebration of one of the PGA Tour’s signature events and the things Downtown has to offer as an entertainment destination.
With four days to work with this year, the event will be multi-faceted beginning with Mayor John Peyton on stage at the Landing Wednesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. to sign a proclamation recognizing Players Championship Week. That act will also kick off a tournament-themed Art Walk that will honor the 20th anniversary of Mark McCumber’s Players Championship victory. Following the signing, McCumber’s son, Kort, will perform with his band, McCumberland Gap.
Live tournament coverage as well as taped highlights from each day’s round are on the schedule for the big screen at the Landing May 8-9 plus live entertainment on the stage in the “19th Hole courtyard” both nights.
The Players Championship live coverage will be shown at the Landing May 10 and live bands will be on stage from noon until 2 a.m. That’s also the day for “Nine Holes at the Landing,” a free golf experience that includes a putting competition for prizes provided by some of Visit Jacksonville’s partners.
The food and beverage purveyors at the Landing will be offering Players Downtown Experience specials and members of the PGA Tour and Champions Tour will be signing autographs beginning at 4 p.m.
Rachel Nudge, director of public relations at the Landing, thinks the event is good for the tournament and good for Downtown.
“This event helps get the entire community involved with the tournament. The Players Championship sells out every year, so if you don’t have a ticket, your choices are to sit at home and watch it on TV or come to the Landing and enjoy all the things Downtown has to offer,” she said.
The Players Downtown Experience is also a way to showcase another part of the region that golf tourists may not have otherwise discovered. During tournament week, hotels at the beaches are full of people who traditionally go from their accommodations to the course and back, stopping along the way for dinner and drinks. Having an event Downtown broadens the marketing opportunity.
“The attendance and excitement of The Players Championship continues to grow each year giving Jacksonville an opportunity to create an event that complements the tournament and showcases other areas of the city.
“As an expanded event, The Players Downtown Experience serves as a golf-themed after party to the tournament, offering fans other options to spend their evenings,” said John Reyes, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville.
The PGA Tour also considers the event an asset that enables the tournament to grow its popularity as an experience to participate in rather than just watch beyond the number of fans the Stadium Course can accommodate.
“The event is a great way to include the Jacksonville metro area in the tournament and celebrate the sport of golf in a fun, family environment,” said Ron Cross, executive director of The Players Championship.