Even with the absence of host Tiger Woods, the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda is expected to bring in about $20 million of revenue for Montgomery County this Fourth of July weekend, said the county Department of Economic Development.
About 150,000 fans attended the tournament last year, county spokeswoman Kristina Ellis said. Based on early projections, those numbers are expected to remain relatively constant, she added.
“It seems like there are actually more people here today than there have been on most Thursdays,”
Ellis said. “If I base it on how many skyboxes there are, I’d say there are about six orseven more [this year].”
Ellis said the fact that the site had Woods’ blessing was beneficial, despite his absence.
“It really showcases Congressional that Tiger said, ‘I want to play
here,’ ” she said. “It draws the national and international eye to Montgomery County.”
The 90 degree-plus temperatures drove many fans to shroud their heads with towels and gravitate toward shaded areas Thursday — much to the delight of some local businesses.
John Benkovic, a PGA teaching professional and manager for a Golftec store to open in Arlington this summer, was running a swing analysis booth in a clubhouse along the 11th fairway.
The heat offered an opportunity for free publicity, he said.
“We’re lined up — people are coming through constantly,” he said, gesturing to the line of people waiting to test their swings. “You know they’re coming in for the air conditioning. It’ll boost revenue, certainly.”
Indeed, Ellis said the tournament brought in about $23.5 million last year for Montgomery County alone, and estimated that it generated $50 million for the entire D.C. metro area based on indirect revenue from local services such as restaurants.
She also said the local hotel business — normally slow during the summer — increased 15 percent from July 2006 to July 2007.
With Woods out of the field, Rocco Mediate — who succumbed to the world’s top golfer after 91 holes just weeks ago in the U.S. Open — was the player who attracted a noticeable buzz Thursday.
“Obviously Tiger’s not here, and we’re all disappointed,” Ellis said. “But after the playoff, I think having [Mediate] here is great. Time will tell whether people who were just here for the Tiger factor will affect things.”
