ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – The best golfers in the world are warming up Wednesday and Thursday, and the BMW Championship will officially kick off with tens of thousands expected at the course through this weekend.
The event is bringing thousands into the region, spending money at restaurants and hotels while also putting St. Louis in a national spotlight.
“I think this has been my first time ever going, so I’m really excited,” said James Barry.
Eddie, James and Lexi Barry are thrilled that they get to see golfers they normally just see on television in person, with hopes they even get to meet a few like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
“Trying to get Rory to sign this,” said Eddie Barry.
They are three of the tens of thousands of fans expected to come to Bellerive throughout the week.
With a sellout this weekend, tournament organizers say tens of millions of dollars will flow into the St. Louis region from this tourney.
“Heads in beds and we got all the restaurants in town are really oversubscribed and that’s a really good thing for our community,” said Carlos Arraya, GM at Bellerive Country Club.
Folks attending the event largely take shuttles from St. Charles’ Family Arena to Bellerive, and just down the road from Family Arena sits Streets of St. Charles.
“We are definitely expecting part of the crowd to come here, we think it makes perfect sense,” said Alyssa Houska.
The Streets of St. Charles marketing manager Alyssa Houska says everything needed, from housing to eating, is in one place.
“The unknown is how much to expect, we’re just really exited to celebrate with everybody,” said Tony Machetto.
Tony Marchetto, owner of Prasino, is offering a big discount to Bmw Championship ticketholders and is preparing for all scenarios.
“Making sure the staff is ready. Communicating with everyone,” said Marchetto.
St. Louis Sports Commission President Marc Schreiber says aside from the millions pumping into the region this week with all the tourism and local contracting money,
“It’s a huge infusion of dollars,” said Schreiber.
It also allows for locals to show off their civic pride.
“When you don’t have this coming through all this time and then you get this chance, the community shows up in a big way,” said Schreiber.
It comes after St. Louis hosted the United States figure skating competition, the N.C.A.A. tournament and plans to host Olympic-related events the next two years.
And with the President’s Cup back at Bellerive in 2030, Schreiber says the region has momentum in attracting major sports.
“I’ll put that up against just about any community, match that,” said Schreiber.
First Alert 4 asked Bellerive general manager Carlos Arraya if they want more major golfing events into the 2030s.
He said he wants to get through this week and the President’s Cup in 2030, and then ultimately it’s up to the members to decide on more tournaments.
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