Still, Nelson officials know that raising more than $6 million for the eighth time will be especially challenging with corporations cutting costs.
That will be a major theme at today’s kickoff luncheon. Tournament officials hope to simplify the sales process by offering customers an improved product. Innovations include a Legends Pro-Am featuring Champions Tour players a major concert at the Pavilion on Friday night more corporate suites on the 17th hole free admission for children 13 and under, and an expanded kids zone. “We have the benefit of being with an event that’s a 40-year tradition,” said Charley Spradley, 2009 tournament chairman. “It’s a product that many people value. But we know times are tough, so we are being more cognizant of the fan.” Spradley said the tournament will, as usual, provide courtesy cars for players through Cadillac. Some tournaments have been forced to eliminate that and other perks. “The economy is a very fluid situation, one that we contend with on a daily basis,” Spradley said. “We are knocking on more doors, streamlining and cutting costs where it doesn’t affect performance.” Returning to only one course, the TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas, has forced Nelson officials to be creative. They no longer have Cottonwood Valley for a pro-am site. Tournament officials have scouted other events to develop new revenue streams. They hope to announce details on the major concert event soon.
“We have some people in our organization who got very creative,” Spradley said. “We formed a task force to add real value to our customers. I will be surprised if we don’t match last year’s donations.”