O/T Warning Open at Portrush selling out fast

[Tony_Muldoon]

Just a heads up if you want tickets, buy NOW.
 
Already sold out: Week Passes and all weekend possibilities.
Practice days and Thursday, Friday are still available at time of writing.
 
Will be there Weds and Friday.

[Jeff Johnston]

As an addendum to Tony's post, Friday tickets now showing as 'limited availability' - when they put that badge over the Saturday tickets earlier in the week, the day sold out pretty quickly thereafter. Can't imagine the R&A have ever seen anything like it in terms of demand etc.

Out of interest does anyone on here know for sure what the daily limit is set at? Have seen references to 50k per tournament day but that seems on the high side for a venue they will be feeling their way at to a fair extent.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Update from the R&A - only practice and Thursday left.   I must admitt that even though I am well aware of the level of interest in sport in Ireland generally, this has taken me a little by surprise.  But in order to secure their fix many sports fans regularly travel abroad in huge numbers to see Football, F1, Rugby etc. This requires planning, and securing a ticket on the Causeway Coast is a lot easier than most trips.   Hopefully this makes for a really exciting Open.


"As you will have seen, there has been unprecedented demand for tickets and hospitality from fans wanting to attend The 148th Open at Royal Portrush from 14-21 July 2019. We are now completely sold out of Weekly, Weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Championship Day Tickets.
Thousands of you will have been among the lucky ones to have secured your tickets for what will be a historic occasion at Royal Portrush in July 2019 and there is still time for others to be part of history by securing some of the remaining tickets.
Fans can still purchase tickets for Practice Days (14-17 July) as well as tickets to the Opening Day of the Championship, Thursday 18 July, and we would encourage them to secure their tickets for this historic occasion by visiting TheOpen.com <https://news.theopen.com/49MT-BZPR-HA7CQ-7U0LL-1/c.aspx> .
If you have missed out on Championship Day Tickets, we have introduced a waiting list <https://news.theopen.com/49MT-BZPR-HA7CQ-7U0LM-1/c.aspx>  for fans and if any tickets are returned for a sold-out day then priority will go to members of The One Club, which is free to join here <https://news.theopen.com/49MT-BZPR-HA7CQ-7U0LN-1/c.aspx> .
We would also like to take this opportunity to warn fans of buying tickets from unofficial and secondary sources. The only official sources of tickets for The 148th Open are via TheOpen.com <https://news.theopen.com/49MT-BZPR-HA7CQ-7U0LL-1/c.aspx>  or our Authorised Ticketing Providers <https://news.theopen.com/49MT-BZPR-HA7CQ-7U0LO-1/c.aspx> .
 
Any tickets made available on websites such as Viagogo, Safetickets.net, Stubhub, eBay and Gumtree are not done so with the permission of The R&A and are subject to unregulated pricing, and as such, are likely to be refused entry to the Championship.
 

[Niall C]

I’m very happy the Open is going to NI.

In hindsight I’m not surprised at the level of demand given the pent up demand for an event of this type.

I’m very happy for the R&A finances.

I’m not so happy about what this will mean going forward for future Opens. Without wishing to resurrect the previous thread regarding the Open, limited ticket availability will inevitably lead to more corporate packages, more people going for the “event”, higher prices and less room for the ordinary punters going to see the golf. Just my opinion.

Niall

[Jamie Pyper]

Interesting excerpt from the Portrush members August Newsletter...
" The R+A are preparing for the event to sell out, the first time an Open Championship has sold out in history."

[Ryan Coles]

As an addendum to Tony's post, Friday tickets now showing as 'limited availability' - when they put that badge over the Saturday tickets earlier in the week, the day sold out pretty quickly thereafter. Can't imagine the R&A have ever seen anything like it in terms of demand etc.

Out of interest does anyone on here know for sure what the daily limit is set at? Have seen references to 50k per tournament day but that seems on the high side for a venue they will be feeling their way at to a fair extent.

I’d also be interested in the number that the R&A have set as a limit?

[jeffwarne]

I’m not so happy about what this will mean going forward for future Opens. Without wishing to resurrect the previous thread regarding the Open, limited ticket availability will inevitably lead to more corporate packages, more people going for the “event”, higher prices and less room for the ordinary punters going to see the golf. Just my opinion.

Niall

One of the best parts of attending the Open is buying tix at the gate and their never selling out.
It is the quickly rivaling The Masters as the best event in golf, and perhaps all sport.
Not a great development-we'll see what the future holds as far as access.
Wonder what effect (if any) this has for PGA Members who continue to enjoy complimentary easy access at all the majors including The Masters

[Jeff Johnston]

Niall, regarding the daily limit - I'm not so sure that this has huge relevance going forward. The Portrush Open is coming with a fairly specific set of circumstances - return to a long absent venue, plus going back to a part of the world with huge interest in seeing the event return, along with similar desire to support it and see it do well - never mind factoring in overseas visitors from both near and far.

With all that in mind, I think the R&A were spot on to make it clear from an early stage there would be  daily limit on general attendance for this one - and the ticket sales have surely proven them correct. If there was no limit, who knows what sort of attendances might have rocked up - safe  to say I think it would have had potential to be pretty uncomfortable / chaotic. So overall, I don't see this as the thin end of the wedge - I may be naïve of course. I'd have a good bet that anyone who wants to will be able to get into RSG in 2020; the 150th at St Andrew's might be a different story. Ultimately though the R&A have responsibility for running a safe (and if possible reasonably comfortable) event.

Still be interested to know what the daily limit is if anyone knows it.

[Adrian_Stiff]

50,000 per day I saw mentioned somewhere. The Open is pencilled back to Portrush for 2026, they might fancy the 2024 slot now!

[Thomas Dai]

They should be pretty used to dealing with big crowds at Portrush given that the North West 200 motor cycle racing is held there, although admittedly on a 8 mile track rather than one of circa 7,000 yds.
Portrush also has a railway station which ought to help with spectator logistics. It’s not far by air from Scotland either for those who have the ££ to use helicopters, as some golf tourists already do.
Atb

[David_Tepper]

Tickets for the 4 rounds are now sold out. Tickets for the practice rounds are still available. The article notes that attendance over the 4 days will total 190,000.


https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/45288981

[Mark Chaplin]

Apparently this is a bit of a financial disaster for the R&A. Their pricing structure is something like purchase by 31/12 £50, by 30/3 £65 and on the day £80. Obviously they’ve sold out but every ticket is heavily discounted, I wouldn’t be surprised if they get Council/police permission to release more tickets closer to the event, obviously at full whack.

[Dean Stokes]

Mum just spent a week with family in Portrush and said all tickets have gone for Championship days. They are now running up silly prices on ticket websites, ebay etc.


Her take on it is that she's "no idea" where anyone will stay or how they'll get to the golf course - players, caddies or spectators!


After listening to my friends who attended Erin Hills, Merion and Shinnecock, it appears that the powers, usually the USGA but in this case The R&A, that be need to think more about infrastructure and hotels than they do the courses! As Jeff said earlier there are certain aspects that make the Open special. One is access.


That should annoy some folk!

[Kalen Braley]

If ur a non-golf interested local, sounds like you could rent out your place for the week for a small fortune and take a completely 100% funded vacay

[Dean Stokes]

Apparently small cottages are going for 20k a week euro/pound.

[Ryan Coles]

My cousin’s nephew’s next door neighbour’s postman said the R&A have never hosted a championship before and don’t know what they’re doing.


This is far more reliable than looking at the previous 100 they’ve hosted......

[Tony_Muldoon]

Oh Ryan how can you trust the R&A when they've sold EVERY ticket and its a financial disaster!

[Ryan Coles]

Oh Ryan how can you trust the R&A when they've sold EVERY ticket and its a financial disaster!

I know. And Lorraine from outside Lidl has no  idea how people will get to the course. R&A  had better have a serious rethink about going ahead. Or at least run things past Lorraine.

[Dean Stokes]

I guess facts don’t matter to you Ryan? Only one road in or out. No train station near by or hotels. You explain the logistics or sense in trying to get 50,000 a day to the course?
My point is the powers that be have no thought for the spectators, caddies or volunteers! The players have 20k a week for homes and helicopters.
Merion was a 2 hour drive for most of the tour caddies. Nice planning. Just because a tournament looks decent on the Golf Channel doesn’t mean it works.
I’m a golfer and golf fan and you couldn’t pay me to go. You couldn’t have given me tickets for Erin Hills or Shinnecock-that’s all I’m saying. Ps. Has your uncle’s postman been to Portrush lately?

[Ryan Coles]

I guess facts don’t matter to you Ryan? Only one road in or out. No train station near by or hotels. You explain the logistics or sense in trying to get 50,000 a day to the course?
My point is the powers that be have no thought for the spectators, caddies or volunteers! The players have 20k a week for homes and helicopters.
Merion was a 2 hour drive for most of the tour caddies. Nice planning. Just because a tournament looks decent on the Golf Channel doesn’t mean it works.
I’m a golfer and golf fan and you couldn’t pay me to go. You couldn’t have given me tickets for Erin Hills or Shinnecock-that’s all I’m saying. Ps. Has your uncle’s postman been to Portrush lately?

Dean


Absolute drivel. That huge metropolis Newport, South Wales hosted a Ryder Cup. It is what is in the surrounding areas (such as  Belfast, Coleraine, etc) that is important. The "cap" on numbers is a red herring. Even as a sell out, far more will be attending than they do at Troon, Carnoustie and Turnberry. But don't let these facts get in the way of Lorraine from Lidl's view. She has far more experience in putting on events than the R&A do....


How many Open's or Open venues have you been to? All your examples are referring to US Open's. We're discussing the Open and specifically the Portrush Open.

[Simon Holt]

I guess facts don’t matter to you Ryan? Only one road in or out. No train station near by or hotels. You explain the logistics or sense in trying to get 50,000 a day to the course?
My point is the powers that be have no thought for the spectators, caddies or volunteers! The players have 20k a week for homes and helicopters.
Merion was a 2 hour drive for most of the tour caddies. Nice planning. Just because a tournament looks decent on the Golf Channel doesn’t mean it works.
I’m a golfer and golf fan and you couldn’t pay me to go. You couldn’t have given me tickets for Erin Hills or Shinnecock-that’s all I’m saying. Ps. Has your uncle’s postman been to Portrush lately?

Dean,


Facts?  Like there being no train station nearby?  Let someone else tell the jokes.


One road in and out?  I give you Sandwich, Muirfield, Carnoustie and Turnberry.  Granted, not in the spectator numbers we are talking, but it will be just fine.


The R&A know what they are doing which is why it has been capped.  This Open was always going to sell out and not only because the Irish Open sold out there a few years ago.


Even if they limited tickets to the island of Ireland it would have sold out.  Ireland will probably never hold an Olympics, football World Cup or Rugby World Cup (maybe outside chance of co-hosting), so this is arguably the biggest sporting event the island will ever host.


Accommodation will be fine as I'd guess the vast majority of attendees will be Irish.  Yes there will be some inflated prices for accommodation but that happens wherever the Open is and come the time, there are always rooms for people.


Anyone that doesn't think this Open will be a success on virtually every level has not been to enough Opens.


Ticketing resale?  I'll reserve judgement on that one.  It will be hard/near impossible to regulate.

[Thomas Dai]

There has been a railway station in Portrush for 150+ years and it, and numerous other facilities in the town, are being upgraded prior to The Open in 2019.
As to handling crowds, well the North West 200 motorcycle races have been based in and around Portrush for nearly 90 years and it annually attracts huge numbers of spectators.
Atb

[Dean Stokes]

Ryan I'm not going to get in some pissing match with people I don't know on here. I remember now why I stopped posting.....keyboard warriors looking for an argument.


I haven't been to Portrush. I'm going off what people who have a home there and have lived there for 50+ years told me.


I've been to 10+ Opens, caddied in several Final Qualifiers and caddied in The Open. Is that ok for you?


Admittedly I mentioned tournaments that the USGA took to remote or hard to get to locations but I think this might be the first time the R&A have done it.


Don't waste the end of your finger I'm out.

[Ryan Coles]

The irony of Dean's position of the R&A need to start thinking about infrastructure instead of Courses is that arguably they've always been a bit conservative and over cautious. We have some wonderful courses and if Dean was correct, they'd have long ago held Open Championships.


The work that went into Portrush, firstly with the Seniors Open, then Irish Open and the years it's taken to come to fruition is evidence of this. I know they've also looked very closely at Porthcawl, and despite their best efforts, just can't make it work logistics wise.

[Kalen Braley]

Are Motorhomes a thing in the UK?  Seems like for difficult venues they could bring in some temporary housing.  Perhaps not ideal, but its only for a week.


For example, the 2005 Super Bowl was held in Jackonsville, FL.  As its not a large city, they brought in a bunch of cruise ships and docked em for the week as floating hotels.


Just a thought...