The Costa Brava-Barcelona candidacy is one step away from tying the organization of the 2031 Ryder Cup. The Catalan option accelerates to host the most exciting competition in the world of golf, the one that pits teams from Europe and the United States every two years. The venue would be the PGA Catalunya, located in Caldes de Malavella (Girona), which already aspired to host the 2022 Ryder (later moved to 2023), an edition that ultimately went to Rome.
Under the impetus of the owner of the PGA Catalunya, the Irish millionaire Denis O’Brien, the Costa Brava-Barcelona candidacy already has the support of the Spanish and Catalan federations, the Spanish Government and the Girona Provincial Council and City Council. The central government has given a political endorsement to the event (later it should be specified in 96 million) while the Girona Provincial Council would contribute four million. O’Brien for his part would invest 25 million in infrastructure and in the construction of a new golf course that would meet the requirements of the Ryder. At present, the negotiations, which began a couple of years ago, are being carried out to obtain the support of the Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council and Provincial Council. Between the three administrations they would have to contribute about 45 million to be paid in ten years. Within the Barcelona City Council, the first deputy mayor, Jaume Collboni, is in favor of the project.
The Federació Catalana is part of Foment del Treball, whose president, Josep Sánchez Llibre, has been the most active in recent contacts at the highest level. In this regard, the President of the Ryder Cup, Guy Kinnings, plans to hold a meeting in a couple of weeks with the President of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès.
Sources from the PGA Catalunya confirmed to this newspaper the existence of the talks and their firm will to host the Ryder in 2031 because they aspire to organize major events. In this sense, it should be remembered that from April 28 to May 1, the Catalunya Championship was held in Caldes, a tournament on the European circuit that ended with the victory of the Catalan Adri Arnaus. The Spanish Federation is also confident of obtaining the white smoke from the Ryder Cup.
The head of Ryder will meet with Pere Aragonès in a couple of weeks
Logically the flight of organizing a Ryder is much greater. It is the mecca of golf in terms of passion, attendance and movement of spectators.
It is estimated that some 270,000 fans from 90 countries attend a Ryder Cup, an event that is broadcast live on television in more than 180 countries (2,500 hours of broadcasting). The 2031 edition would generate 150 additional jobs after the opening of the new golf course, which would be added to the current 480 of the PGA Catalunya. The economic return would be substantial.
The direct impact of the competition is around 570 million, to which should be added another 590 from the income that golf tourism would generate in the area in the following years because, according to studies from previous editions, seven out of ten fans want to return to the home of the Ryder. Tourism linked to golf usually has a high purchasing power.
The Costa Brava-Barcelona candidacy accelerates to host the golf tournament with the most impact
Negotiations to organize a competition of this magnitude come at a time when Catalonia is struggling to host major events after a long journey through the desert. It was recently confirmed that Barcelona will host the America’s Cup for sailing in 2024 and also that the Tour of Spain will start in 2023 from the Catalan capital. To this must be added the attempt to form a joint candidacy with Aragon for the 2030 Winter Olympics.
In 2023 the Ryder Cup will be based in Rome, in 2025 in New York, in 2027 in Limerick (Ireland) and in 2029 in Minnesota.
