Vince McCormack, Matt Rapp, Daniel Davis and Mark Frisch

THE PLAYERS Championship returns to THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass May 6-11. The tournament brings world-class golf to the region and an estimated economic impact in excess of $151 million to Northeast Florida. In 2013, approximately 174,000 fans, business executives and media from around the world attended THE PLAYERS Championship. Today, business leaders discussed the economic benefits during a news conference at the JAX Chamber.

“As we strive to grow THE PLAYERS each year, we continue to look for innovative ways to work with local companies and help showcase them to a global audience,” said Matt Rapp, executive director of THE PLAYERS. “THE PLAYERS is the place to do business during the week of the tournament — more than 400 local, national and international businesses use the tournament to entertain clients, build relationships and network. We encourage all companies to take advantage of this week with Northeast Florida in the international spotlight to show all of what our region has to offer.”

THE PLAYERS provides a tremendous opportunity for companies to do business and entertain clients during the event. THE PLAYERS has partnerships in place with more than 350 businesses in Northeast Florida. Nearly 2,000 jobs are created and millions of dollars are invested in local businesses as a result of THE PLAYERS each year. Miller Electric Co. employees spend months at TPC Sawgrass wiring hospitality tents and oversees the electrical operations on the course during the tournament week. Perdue Office Interiors is furnishing the enhanced hospitality venues including those where fans enjoy shaded seating and refreshments along the course. The tournament welcomes 25 local food vendors including food trucks and many local restaurants, both on and off the course, which receive a direct economic impact from the tournament.

Vince McCormack, president of Perdue Office Interiors, and Mark Frisch, executive vice president of Beaver Street Fisheries and owner of Pele’s Wood Fire, talked about their support of THE PLAYERS and the business opportunities they’ve seen because of it.

Perdue is building out and furnishing The Turn, a casual, air-conditioned environment with outside stadium seating.

“We’ve always used the tournament as a way to entertain clients, but in recent years we’ve become more of a business partner, which allows us to showcase our work not only to local businesses, but those visiting from out of town,” McCormack said.

Beaver Street Fisheries’ brand, Sea Best Seafood, is sponsoring the Sea Best Tent behind the famous 17th hole at THE PLAYERS, and Pele’s is among the local restaurant options on the course. Pele’s was first at THE PLAYERS last year and this will be the first year for the Sea Best Tent, one of the improvements THE PLAYERS is making to enhance the spectator experience.

“We had a great week out there last year and we jumped at the chance to come out again,” said Frisch, who commended Rapp for continuing to improve the tournament and look for ways to involve local businesses.

The business community should take advantage of the opportunity to do business at THE PLAYERS, as well as support the tournament, JAX Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis said.

“THE PLAYERS is a premier sporting event for our city and region, and it’s also one of our biggest weeks for business,” Davis said. “THE PLAYERS has made a concerted effort to use the event as a way to showcase local businesses and I encourage companies to support the tournament and use it as a place to do business the week of the tournament.”