A new economic impact study released this week shows that the 153rd Open Championship generated £280 million (€318 million) in economic benefit for Northern Ireland, underlining once again the immense power of major sporting events to transform local economies.
The report, compiled by the Sports Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University and commissioned by The R&A in partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland, captures both the scale of the championship and the breadth of its afterglow.
The numbers tell a compelling story. A record 278,000 spectators visited Royal Portrush across the championship week — surpassing the 2019 total of 237,750 and setting a new benchmark for any Open held outside St Andrews.
That surge in attendance, combined with higher visitor spending and increased demand for accommodation, helped fuel a dramatic rise in the tournament’s economic impact since The Open last visited Portrush.
Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said the results highlight the “huge value” the championship delivers to host regions.
“This remarkable economic benefit figure of more than £280 million demonstrates the huge value The Open brings to the regions in which it is staged. As one of the world’s great sporting events it drives tourism, generates substantial additional income for local businesses and communities and attracts an international audience to watch the world’s best golfers compete at world-class venues.”
Of the total benefit, £191 million (€217 million) was attributed to global media exposure — from broadcast coverage to digital reach — effectively serving as worldwide destination marketing for Northern Ireland. The remaining £89 million (€101 million) came through direct economic impact, including visitor spend, business activity and operational investment. Within that, the Causeway Coast and Glens area — home to Royal Portrush — saw a particularly strong uplift, receiving £43.7 million (€49.6 million).
Compared with 2019, the growth is striking. The total economic impact for Northern Ireland has almost doubled from £45 million (€51 million), while the local impact within Causeway Coast and Glens has risen by 67 per cent. According to the report, three factors drove the surge: larger crowds, increased daily spending (up 134 per cent nationally and 100 per cent regionally), and more visitors opting for hotels and other paid accommodation.
The championship also drew an increasingly diverse audience. Nearly 60 per cent of attendees travelled from outside Northern Ireland, including significant numbers from England (17.3 per cent), the Republic of Ireland (16.7 per cent) and the United States (12.3 per cent). Notably, 62 per cent were attending The Open for the first time — a reflection both of Scheffler’s star draw and Portrush’s growing international allure.
Beyond the immediate legacy for Northern Ireland, the findings will be watched closely in Dublin, where the Government has backed the prospect of Portmarnock Golf Club hosting a future Open Championship.
The R&A is currently conducting feasibility studies on bringing the oldest major outside the UK for the first time. The Portrush numbers — particularly the scale of economic impact and international interest — will strengthen the case for expanding The Open’s geography even further.
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