Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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July 29, 2010

Greenbrier Classic: An economic boon for entire region

BILL ARCHER Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — The Greenbrier Classic is having an impact as far away as a two-hour drive away from the event venue.

“This Friday and Saturday, the lodging in Mercer County is essentially filled,” Marie Blackwell, executive director of the Mercer County Convention & Visitors Bureau said. “I compare it to a Bristol race. People attending the race fill up the Bristol-area lodging, and then come here. When all of our properties here are full, they go on up to Beckley.”

Blackwell said there are about 950 rooms in Mercer County, and of that number, “very few are available on Friday night and even less on Saturday night,” she said. “We’re seeing something. I’m not sure that it’s all because of the Greenbrier Classic. I know we have some reunions in the area, but I think most of the impact is because of the classic.”

Blackwell said that a CVB volunteer, Sue Brooks, will be gathering data from people who stop at the West Virginia Welcome Center in Princeton to see where all of the visitors are coming from. “It’s a brief survey that should only take a few minutes to fill out,” Blackwell said.

Keith Circle, executive assistant of the Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce said that Robert Farley, Princeton Chamber president and chief executive officer, has been volunteering at the classic for the first two days.

“Robert stopped here at the office this morning before he went back up to White Sulphur Springs,” Circle said. “He didn’t say much about the specifics of the experience, but he said he was having a great time. Several people from Princeton are up there volunteering this week.

“I know this is having an impact on our local economy,” Circle said. “As Robert often says, and it’s something I believe too, what’s good for the region is good for all of us.”

Marc Meachum, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce was also pleased by the event. “I think it’s a great thing for the entire area,” Meachum said. “Several people from Bluefield are up there working as volunteers and some folks are attending the event. It is having an impact on our entire region.”

The first threesome is scheduled to tee off for the start of the inaugural Greenbrier Classic at 7 a.m., this morning. The four-day tournament has attracted some of the top golfers on the PGA tour.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com

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