City of Derry Airport gearing up to become golfer's hub for 2025 Open Championship
Last updated 24th Oct 2023
The City of Derry Airport is gearing up to become a gateway to the North Coast for the return of the Open Championship to Royal Portrush in 2025, according to the Managing Director.
Steve Frazer has revealed to Downton/ Cool Fm that talks are already underway with Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland to capitalise on the event making it’s return to the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough.
Steven Frazer said: “It’s another fantastic opportunity. We’ve been lucky enough to have it only a couple of years ago. Sadly, Covid probably stifled the momentum that could have been gained for that for the North West region.
“Now, we have another opportunity to make Derry Airport the gateway, it is the gateway, to the North West.
“I think we are already a go-to hub for many of the golfers in the region. The level of corporate travel we see here has doubled in the last couple of years.
“You do get the American and Irish market coming in. They want to play on the North Coast.
“High network Individuals do like to charter aircraft and come in for a weekend or a week’s golfing. We see a lot of that because we are blessed across Donegal and the Causeway Coast and some fantastic courses across our region.”
237,750 spectators flocked to the Causeway Coast back then, setting a new attendance record for a championship held outside St Andrews.
The Open in 20-19 generated more than £100 million for Northern Ireland's economy. Meanwhile, more than 5,400 hours of television coverage were broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers globally.
Mr Frazer has said plans are already underway to try and optimise the airport so that it can welcome more chartered flights and to prepared for an expected increase in passenger numbers.
He added: “We will be the nearest point to the Open Championship. So, we are already gearing up talking to Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland about the opportunities that exist around the Open and the momentum that can be gathered post the Open to get some of that legacy and some of that benefit to be able to host such a prestigious competition.
“All the high-profile golfers, without using any names, were all parked here which is fantastic to see and we expect the same and more next time.
“We are already gearing up in different areas of the airport where we can provide parking for those golfers while they’re in the tournament and cope with the extra influx of people wanting the convivence of arriving at the nearest airport for the Open Championship.”
Take a look back at some of the highlights from the 2019 Open Championship in Portrush
Fans race to catch a glimpse of Holywood hero Rory McIlroy
Dungannon's Darren Clarke spots the championship's Claret Jug on his way to the first tee on Day 1
Crowds gather on Championship day round 3
Shane Lowry on the 2nd Tee on Day 4 of The Open
The Giant's Causeway provides the perfect backdrop for Day 3
Fans show their support for golf legend Tiger Woods
A busy spot on the course - the Spectator Village built on the old 17th & 18th fairways
Dunluce Castle looming over the 6th green
Tiger Woods teeing off on Day 2
Portrush local Graeme McDowell stops to chat to fans and signs golf balls and caps
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