The and its local Head of Corporate Engagement, Everett Jacobs
The PGA of America is grateful for Bay Area sports pioneers leading the charge in world class experiences, which is why are so thrilled to bring our very own next May with the 102nd playing of the PGA Championship. The PGA Championship is one of the premier sporting events in the world. As the only Championship for professionals, by professionals, the PGA Championship perennially delivers the strongest and deepest international field in men’s major championship golf and is synonymous with historic moments that resonate with golf and sports fans everywhere. The PGA Championship’s return to California in a quarter century and its first time ever played in the Bay Area marks the start of . In addition to the PGA Championship to be played next May 11 – 17, three major PGA of America championships will be conducted in San Francisco over the next decade, including the 2028 PGA Championship and culminating with the 2032 Ryder Cup!
Everett Jacobs, Head of Corporate Engagement for the 2020 PGA Championship, has first-hand experience in other world sporting events hosted in San Francisco, most recently with Rugby World Cup Sevens and the 34th America’s Cup.
Why is the 2020 PGA Championship monumental for San Francisco?
Having lived in the Bay Area most my life, I understand what this means to San Francisco and the future of golf in Northern California. The PGA Championship continues to annually deliver more than $100 million dollars in direct and indirect economic impact for its host city, over-and-above normal tourism dollars and local goods and services. San Francisco will benefit from a similar economic impact. Additionally, and more importantly, the championship annually reaches over 175+ countries and territories around the world totaling an estimated household reach of over a half billion people, with nearly 1,000 print and electronic media representatives credentialed each year on-site to cover and report on the event.
For the first time in May 2020 at Harding Park, the PGA Championship will begin live wall-to-wall, full-field, 72-hole coverage through its historic 11-year comprehensive multimedia rights agreement with CBS Sports, ESPN, and ESPN+. These premier media partners will combine to deliver more than 175 cumulative hours of live coverage from the first tee shot to the final putt across broadcast, cable and digital platforms – presenting the highest quality product with state-of-the-art technology, and through a broadcast team that shares the PGA of America’s mission to grow the sport of golf, all the while celebrating everything San Francisco and the Bay Area has to offer, just as so many did for the America’s Cup and Rugby World Sevens.
Since the PGA Championship annually draws the largest and deepest line-up of the top 100 male professional golfers throughout the world, that means you’ll see many of golf’s finest professional golfers walking the fairways of Harding Park just steps away from our hospitality and first-ever spectator experiences.
What are some key partnerships the PGA of America has made in San Francisco?
Partnerships are imperative to producing a successful global sporting event in San Francisco and the 2020 PGA Championship team has established key relationships with the City and County of San Francisco, Parks and Recreation Department of San Francisco, San Francisco Travel, the Bay Area Council, San Francisco Business Times and, of course, the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½, with additional organizations continuing to come on board in the coming months. These alliances allow us to meaningfully connect with the local business and governmental communities in meaningful ways that all add to the cumulative success of hosting a modern major championship in a world first class city like San Francisco.
What differentiates the PGA Championship from other golf events in the Bay Area
First, if you’ve attended a golf event at other California venues, we know how amazing those experiences can be for you and your guests, where perhaps transportation and accommodations can sometimes be a challenge. Hosting a major event, like the PGA Championship, in the heart of San Francisco eliminates some of those frustrations due to Harding Park’s location, allowing spectators to simply utilize the city’s robust public transportation and/or enjoy the growing popularity of a short and reasonable rideshare experience directly to Harding Park from their home or office. Companies can easily create a unique and unforgettable experience for top clients and prospective ones, even for a half day, by hosting a meeting downtown followed by an afternoon of entertaining at Harding Park.
Second, if you’ve never experienced a Major Championship, the world-class allure and professional environment of the PGA Championship is unlike any other golf event. While Harding Park has hosted golf tournaments, such as the President’s Cup and WSG-Cadillac Match Play, the 2020 PGA Championship is the first of its magnitude, where you and your clients will want to be next May. We know that the 2020 PGA Championship will be the largest championship ever held at Harding Park. Thanks to the PGA of America’s dedicated planning team, the deep experience and expertise of City and County leaders, San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department, Harding Park staff, numerous local, state, and federal authorities, and a legion of over 3,500 volunteers, we’ll be ready to welcome all San Franciscans to an extraordinary Championship week.
How do I get involved in the 2020 PGA Championship?
Given my personal experience with world-class global sporting events in San Francisco, there’s no doubt this PGA Championship will be the social and sporting event of the season in the Bay Area come next May. All Bay Area businesses should know that there are at every level, including access for smaller groups of 4 to 8 people, all the way up to hosting 50 or 100 guests per day. With a Major Championship right in their backyard, a high volume of iconic Bay Area companies have already signed on with limited hospitality options remaining. Since the majority of our premium hospitality options will be gone by the end of the year, those SF Chamber Members interested in hosting their top clients, prospective clients, executives, and employees should contact me soon.
Everett Jacobs
Head of Corporate Engagement, 2020 PGA Championship
ejacobs@pgahq.com
2020 Corporate Hospitality