(BLAINE) – The TPC Twin Cities is getting ready to host their biggest tournament ever. They have lengthened the holes, narrowed the fairways, and now they are building stands and tents for next month’s 3M Open.
“In usual Minnesota style, this place is going to be packed,” said Hollis Cavner, CEO or Prolinks Sports.
It was busy during the previous year’s 3M Championship, which was a part of the Champions Tour, but moving to a PGA event, attendance numbers are expected to skyrocket.
“We’ve seen numbers which anticipate over 150,000 people coming to the tournament, which is about four times as big as we saw with the 3M Championship.” said Erik Thorvig, Blaine’s economic development coordinator.
And each of those visitors brings money to the area. So much money, that the tournament is predicting a $50 million economic impact.
“And the great part is, money stays here,” said Cavner.
Part of that is the money that the tournament profits through ticket sales, but all of that will be given away.
“As a non-profit organization, the 3M Open Fund donates one hundred percent of the tournament’s proceeds to support local charities,” said 3M senior vice president Denise Rutherford.
The charities receiving the money will be the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and the National Park Foundation.
