Ryder Cup expected to pump $160 million into Long Island's economy
Small business owners like Sean Walsh are expecting a big boom from the 250,000 people attending the Ryder Cup in Farmingdale.
The Long Island Association estimates the Ryder Cup will pump $160 million into Long Island's economy and create 1,000 jobs.
Small business owners like Sean Walsh are expecting a big boom from the 250,000 people attending the Ryder Cup in Farmingdale.
"I think it's going to be a great boost to the businesses right at the end of the summer, it's perfect timing," said Walsh, co-owner of L.I. McGrath's in Farmingdale.
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"Small businesses in downtown Farmingdale and other downtowns are going to really benefit from thousands, tens of thousands of people. Not just from Long Island, not just from New York state, not just from the country, throughout the world come here to Long Island," said Matt Cohen, president of the Long Island Association.
Cohen says its analysis is based on past PGA events and prior Ryder Cups, and the effect they had on the communities where they were hosted.
The projected number includes spending at hotels and restaurants on Long Island, and the jobs created to build out and host the Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park.
"The eyes of the world are watching us and people might say 'maybe I'll go visit Long Island, maybe I'll go shop on Long Island,' and I think there's a value you can't even put on that, and it's going to be really big for us," Cohen said.
For those who don't have a ticket, local bars and restaurants are holding Ryder Cup watch parties to draw in customers and join in the excitement.
