The countdown has officially begun for the John Deere Classic, which will be next month in the Quad Cities. This morning, the tournament hosted media day for reporters, photographers, and others to learn about what's new this year. Director, Clair Peterson, says for the first time in ten years, ticket prices have gone up. Advanced tickets for one day will cost 25 dollars, one dollar more than last year.
“The VIP parking, we’ve gone from $10 to $15. Just because there wasn’t a big differentiation between five dollar parking which is general parking, and VIP. And our VIP lots were getting overburdened, so we thought that that was justified.”
Serving his 13th year as director, Peterson says he doesn't think local residents fully understand the business and cash the classic brings to the Quad Cities.
“All of the suppliers, the players, the caddies, the media, and how much that means to the restaurants, hotels and the gas stations and everywhere else where people are spending money. So if the tournament weren’t here, the $25 million is probably the impact that wouldn’t exist.”
Last year, nearly 500 non-profits received 6.3 million dollars through the Birdies for Charity program. And 1,500 volunteers work before, during, and after the classic.
It's 6th year of a seven-year title sponsorship deal between Deere and Company and the PGA Tour. Tournament week starts on July 6th at TPC Deere Run in Silvis. 156 players will compete in the 2015 John Deere Classic, for a purse of 4.7 million dollars.