Around 200,000 fans are expected to enter Quail Hollow Club for the PGA Championship this week, but they’ll need to be ready to spend a fair chunk of money if they want to drink alcohol. The second major of the year gets underway in Charlotte on Thursday, with Rory McIlroy among the favourites after his dramatic Masters triumph last month.
This year, organisers have confirmed a new add-on for event ticket holders. Those with general admission tickets will benefit from the Championship+ feature, which means unlimited access to food and non-alcoholic beverages at the course’s concession stands. Food items like burgers and hot dogs, and soft drinks will be available all day, and food stalls are expected to be extremely busy.
However, the perk doesn’t extend to beer, wine, or spirits. Instead, supporters will have to fork out £11 just for a single lager, with a glass of wine costing £10.22 (after dollars are converted to pounds).
Alcoholic cocktails are the most expensive item on the menu, which will set people back £12.50. Seltzers, meanwhile, are slightly cheaper at £11.73.
Despite the expensive prices, Patina Group, which is in charge of the catering, has predicted they’ll use 15,000 cases of beer. They also envisage using 5,600 bottles of vodka and 3,200 bottles of Bourbon.
Executive chef Ed Milan has vowed that the food menu will reflect the local area’s produce and heritage. He’s promised an emphasis on spring flavours and barbecue foods, with Charlotte famed for its vast array of Smokehouse restaurants.
Exorbitant food and alcohol prices are becoming increasingly common at sporting venues and events. At the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, fans were left angry after being charged £17 for a burger, although at £7 a pint, beer was considerably cheaper than what fans will pay in America this week.
It’s not just golf fans being asked to fork out. A beer at West Ham’s London Stadium costs £7.30, while the Principality Stadium in Cardiff now charges £8 a pint.
