"This is definitely the closing of a chapter in the story of the LPGA"

Ron Sirak reports on the demise of the 31-year old Corning Classic...

"This is a sad, sad day," says Gail Graham, a former player who is president of the Tournament Owners Association. "Corning has been such a staunch supporter of the LPGA. This loss is disappointing but understandable. Perhaps the tour has outgrown Corning, which is sad. As a player, I know how much fun it was to go there. When you have an event whose attendance for the week surpasses the population of the town, that is a cool thing."

And...

"This is definitely the closing of a chapter in the story of the LPGA," says Graham. "The tour has become such big business, but I hope it keeps a feel for what is happening in the economy. I don't expect there to be any more Cornings this year, but nothing surprises me right now. We have tournaments whose revenues are way, way down. And there are many tournaments whose contracts are up."

On a lighter note--though I doubt the Brand Lady will see it that way--Jon Show says the LPGA will stage a mandatory player summit before the start of the Michelob Ultra Open, its first such meeting since 2002.

The two-day meetings, at which players will learn about the business and strategy of the LPGA, will start May 2 at the Kingsmill Resort & Spa in Williamsburg, Va.

The first night of the summit, LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens and special guest Billie Jean King will address the 100 or so players expected to attend. LPGA board Chairwoman Dawn Hudson and board President Michelle Ellis are also scheduled to speak.

The following day, a group of sports industry executives and retired athletes will help lead sessions designed to build awareness about the tour’s history and plans.

Can't wait for the Tweets from there!

Comments

[Defender of the Faith]

Nice graphic. Gets the message across.

[Chuck]

They are going to need a translation service at the players' meeting, aren't they? Why have the meeting at Kingsmill? Why not hold it at the U.N.?

[Former S&T Convert]

Billie Jean King??

[Bob S.]

"Mandatory" players summit and only 100 are expected to show up?

If they called it "Womandatory" would more players show up?

[Double Secret Probation]

My home town event, soon to be gone. I attended the first 7 Corning Classics from '79-'85, before I headed off to college, volunteering for one of them. Attended 3-4 more since, but none since '97 (live far away, obviously).

It truly was a community event. Welcome notes in all the downtown businesses. My mom played racquetball with a player. My friend's family hosted a fairly prominent player for years.

A sad state for a tour losing events, partly because the tour is pricing itself out. OK, let's raise prices when the economy is in the tank! So, losing events is less importnat than keeping/raising profits? Without events.....

[John G]

That's a real shame. Like DSP, I attended quite a few of the Classics while in junior high and high school, and got to walk inside the ropes one year as a volunteer. There was just something about the atmosphere that made it special. I haven't been to other LPGA tour stops to know if it was unique to Corning, but I certainly haven't experienced it at any of the men's events I've attended -- I'm guessing it was just Corning. I worked in a pharmacy behind the main hotel and players would stop in and chat.