In a surprising announcement on Monday, the PGA Tour event at Silverado Resort has a new name – The Napa Valley Golf Championship.
The tournament has been the Fortinet Championship recently and as of Monday, there were still sites advertising the tournament as such.
But in a release sent out Monday morning by SPORTFIVE – a global sports marketing agency – the tournament is now known as the “Napa Valley Golf Championship.”
The release listed a web site – www.napavalleygolfchampionship – that says, “launching soon,” on the site landing page.
I was critical of Fortinet initially as the company seems to ignore the fans and were very self-serving. Under the sponsor’s name, the Safeway Open, the tournament became one of the top fan-friendly events.
When Fortinet came in, a lot of the vibe disappeared. Last year they seemed more in tune but there was still aways to go.
With the sudden change, it is unknown what the fan experience will be like but be sure, there are people working on the event that will make sure it is a good time for all.
I am working through channels right now to figure out what is going on and will make sure to push out information as I get it.
Following is the press release sent out Monday morning.
The Napa Valley Golf Championship, the first stop on the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Fall schedule, returns to the acclaimed Silverado Resort for the 11th year, September 12–15, 2024. Set in the heart of wine country with a field of 156 of the PGA TOUR’s elite and rising stars, the tournament combines the best of Napa Valley food, wine and fall harvest weather.
“With its unique combination of PGA TOUR golf and hospitality in a setting that only the Napa Valley can offer, we are excited about kicking off the FedExCup Fall at the Napa Valley Golf Championship,” said PGA TOUR Chief Competitions Officer Tyler Dennis. “Last year’s competition at Silverado Resort included the coming-out-party of Sahith Theegala, who captured his maiden PGA TOUR title in heartwarming fashion. Now a rising star, Sahith returning to defend his title is one of the many compelling storylines fans can look forward to in September.”
Spectators will have a variety of ticket options to choose from, ranging from daily grounds tickets to the new 1955 Club experience.
“While our name has changed, the Napa Valley Golf Championship will continue to be a premier event that provides unparalleled front-row access to elite professional athletes, a platform to promote Napa Valley to a worldwide TV audience, and an opportunity to continue to impact the community through charitable efforts that have raised over $9 million since moving to Silverado Resort in 2014,” said executive director Andy McDowell.” We’re looking forward to revealing several on-course enhancements to elevate the spectator experience in the coming weeks.”
The 1955 Club is a new shared hospitality venue located on the 18th green. Fans can enjoy an exclusive viewing area of the finishing hole, a fully shaded winery-themed tent, along with hosted lunch and afternoon snacks, beer and wine (including daily premium tastings from Alpha Omega, Amulet Estate, Freemark Abbey, and Revana Family Vineyard), outdoor theatre-style seating, as well as high-top tables and chairs, and VIP restrooms.
Daily Grounds tickets provide fans access to the tournament grounds, open-to-the public venues, public grandstands, the Visit Napa Valley Fan Village, and more.
Tickets will go on sale August 1 and prices start at $50 for Daily Grounds and $225 for the 1955 Club.
To be the first in the know about upcoming announcements or for more information, visit NapaValleyGolfChampionship.com.