Football without fans is nothing. Well, the Ryder Cup without fans wouldn’t be anywhere near as good.
Money makes the world go round and as we all know, golf is no different. The ticket prices for the 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black were released and it is fair to say that fans who are wishing to travel to New York will struggle to get bang for their buck.
Fan protests over ticket prices in football is commonplace, and, if you are a German football connoisseur, you are an advocate of the ‘twenty is plenty’ movement.
When it comes to next year’s Ryder Cup, twenty will get you diddly.
The general worry of golf fans across the globe is that they will be priced out of Bethpage Black, ironically known as “The People’s Country Club.”
Entry for one of the Ryder Cup’s three days of competition next September starts at $750 per person, with practice days tagged at $255.
It does come with an unlimited food and non alcoholic drink vouchers.
Non alcoholic drink vouchers, the 2025 Ryder Cup is the bastion for anti craic.
Not that getting pissed up at a golf event should be advocated but it does add an extra edge to things when fans get riled up and become heavily involved in proceedings, particularly in America where the hostile environment has become infamous.
One of the main concerns is not ‘who will drink the $18-25 beer’ but who can actually afford it.
Fears have arisen that next year’s Ryder Cup could be one of the quieter affairs as the rich settle in to enjoy a relaxing weekend outside the ropes.
There is no doubt that a friendlier, more boring atmosphere in Bethpage Black would suit Luke Donald’s Europeans and be a massive own goal from an American point of view.
Last year’s US Open at LA Country Club was a bit of a snooze fest with the local membership limiting the allocation of general admission tickets to fans. While there were topography issues related also, next year is all about cost.
Prices are high especially when compared to last year’s edition in Marco Simone, Rome.
General admission tickets were between €50 ($52.97) and €60 ($63.56) for the practice days, €250 ($264.83) for Friday and Saturday tickets and €260 ($275.42) for Sunday.
It’s the European fans who are going to be hit the hardest. On top of paying for flights, accommodation, food, maybe a rental car etc as well as $750 for just one day ticket to the Ryder Cup it’s fair to say people will be priced out of going.
Money makes the world go round and for the European Tour Group (DP World Tour) the Ryder Cup is a vital source of revenue.
Revenue from last year’s Ryder Cup in Rome increased by 40% compared to the previous European staging in 2018 at Le Golf National.
However, despite that, profits were down 40% and the European Tour Group posted an operating loss of £20m from the Ryder Cup.
Imagine if the DP World Tour didn’t have this revenue? A dark picture.
The PGA of America also benefit hugely from the Ryder Cup but they have been accused of price gouging before.
During the 2022 PGA Championship in Southern Hills there was “Berate” with prices between $13 and $19.
Justin Thomas, who won that event, slammed the prices of alcoholic beverages.
Attending elite sporting events has become extortionately expensive in many cases, but there are some bucket list occasions like a World Cup final, Super Bowl, Olympics, Wimbledon even something like the Masters that make a pricey ‘one and done’ splash worthwhile.
The Ryder Cup does fall into that category, but when it boils down to it, is it really worth paying $750 to watch 24 players, of whom not all of the best in the world are included, play in an event where not everybody is playing at the same time?
Course space becomes quite congested for spectators when everyone is attracted to four matches per day on Friday and Saturday, although it becomes easier to get around with the twelve singles on Sunday.
Next year is an American Ryder Cup. We want it loud and boisterous and hostile and vicious. But charging $750 sets a dangerous precedent for future editions of the biennial contest.