Hosting golf’s Open generated £280m economic benefit for NI, research suggests

Hosting golf’s Open Championship in Northern Ireland during the summer generated £280 million in economic benefit for the region, independent research has suggested.

An assessment commissioned jointly by tournament hosts The R&A and Tourism Northern Ireland found that July’s sporting showpiece at Royal Portrush Golf Club delivered almost £90 million in economic impact within Northern Ireland.

Further research indicated that exposure of the region to a global audience produced £191 million worth of destination marketing benefit.

Almost 280,000 spectators attended Royal Portrush across a week that culminated with world No 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler lifting the prized Claret Jug in front of thousands of cheering fans.

The 153rd Open at Portrush was the second-best attended event in the championship’s long history.

Now, an economic impact study conducted by the sports industry research centre at Sheffield Hallam University has calculated that the Open provided £89.2 million to Northern Ireland, of which £43.7 million was generated within Portrush and the surrounding Causeway Coast and Glens area.

This is a significant increase on the previous occasion the Open came to the region – 2019 – when it was assessed as generating £45 million for Northern Ireland, including £26.2 million for Causeway Coast and Glens.

Separate research by YouGov has assessed the global exposure of the competition this summer – through TV, digital platforms and online media – as being worth £191 million in destination marketing benefit.

Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said: “This remarkable economic benefit figure of more than £280 million demonstrates the huge value The Open brings to the regions in which it is staged.

“As one of the world’s