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Michigan Hosts Major Sporting Events Over the Next Decade Contact Kevin Frisch BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (August 1, 2003) - The State of Michigan occupies a rich position in sports history and is preparing to host even more significant events over the next decade. Leading the way is the 2004 Ryder Cup - golf's version of the Super Bowl. That will indeed be followed by Super Bowl XL in 2006, the 2008 PGA Championship, and, just recently announced, the 2009 NCAA Basketball Final Four. In September of 2004, Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills will be the stage for the 35th Ryder Cup Matches, an event that has gone from a quiet international golf exhibition to the most anticipated golf team competition in the world. In 2008 the golf world returns to Oakland Hills for the PGA Championship. Oakland Hills Country Club is already one of golf's most historic major championship venues, having been host six U.S. Opens, one United States Amateur, and two other PGA Championships. The Ryder Cup will give Michigan the opportunity to display brilliantly the quantity and quality of great golf it offers. Michigan boasts over 800 public golf courses - more than any state in the nation! Golf travelers contribute nearly $1-billion annually* to the state's economy. Following the Ryder Cup, Detroit will be geared to host the NFL's Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in 2006. Over 70,000 football fans and millions of television viewers will experience the rebirth of Detroit and the showcase of Michigan through the Super Bowl and its worldwide audience. Finally in 2009, college basketball's premier sporting event, the NCAA Final Four will be held at Ford Field. The annual men's basketball tournament is one of the nation's most popular sporting events, and its staging at Ford Field will bring with it thousands of tourists and millions of dollars in revenue and exposure. The Final Four joins the Ryder Cup, Super Bowl XL, and the PGA Championship, along with the annual success of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, in making Michigan one of the premier sports states in America. For more information on Michigan travel, please visit www.michigan.org. |