The publication of ticket prices for the Bethpage Ryder Cup has sparked reactions from all interested parties, fans and media first and foremost. Usually, the wave of controversy tends to die down, more or less quickly, but this is one of those cases where the exact opposite happens.
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Following the criticisms aimed at the pricing policy applied, Bryan Karns, championship director of the PGA of America, intervened to explain the philosophy that guided the governing body executives towards this choice. During an interview broadcast on Syrius XM PGA Tour Radio, Karns was very clear on the matter.
Ryder Cup, tickets
We see ourselves as a top-tier event, on the same level as the World Series or the NBA Final 7 So when we chose the pricing policy, we analyzed the data for this type of event, and we were able to see how much fans pay to take part in it We then asked ourselves where we stand in this scenario, and the answer we gave ourselves is that there are people who have the Ryder Cup on their bucket list who also go to see the Yankees World Series opener Demand for this event is at the highest levels, so we wanted to make sure we had set an adequate price.
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Personally, I find it a bit of an aseptic approach, understandable from a business point of view, but not from that of the spirit of the game. And my feeling is confirmed by another piece of news released yesterday.
Several volunteers who will work at Bethpage, who wanted to remain anonymous, reported a significant increase in the fee they will have to pay the PGA for the volunteer package. In more recent times, the request for a fee to volunteers for clothing and services by tournament organizers has become common practice, breaking the tradition of reciprocal gratuity.
But the PGA of America wanted to apply the same yardstick used for tickets, setting, with the $350 that volunteers for the 2025 Ryder Cup will have to shell out, a new record.
