Leisurecorp free tickets spark record golf turnout

Leisurecorp’s free ticket scheme has helped the Nakheel Leisure subsidary to draw in a record crowd of nearly 90,000 golf fans for the 2009 European Open.
 
Free tickets were available for all four days of the event, held at the London Gold Club. The success comes on the back of Leisurecorp’s ‘Free Ticket Thursday’, which was held at last year’s European Open and brought in a crowd of 24,000 spectators.
 
“We intend to make the tournament accessible to as many people as possible, whether they are seasoned fans or totally new to the sport,” said Nakheel Leisure managing director Hamza Mustafa.
 
The event, Leisurecorp’s first of 2009, was won by Frenchman Christian Cévaër who was previously ranked 196th in The Race to Dubai, a US$10 million season-long competition which will conclude with the Dubai World Championship.
 

 
Leisurecorp claims that the attendance record breaks previous figures by more than 30,000 people. A similar free ticket scheme has also been scheduled for the Dubai World Championship, which will be held from November 19-22 at Leisurecorp’s Jumeirah Golf Estates development. Tickets have been available for three weeks with an estimated 25,000 registrations.
 
“It is gratifying that so many people, particularly youngsters, took advantage of the [European Open] offer and it shows us that free tickets for the Dubai World Championship is the right way forward,” said Mustafa.