Newport has received millions of pounds worth of investment thanks to The Ryder Cup.
As host city, Newport has been able to access funds that would not have otherwise been available to us. This welcome investment has enabled us to bring forward a programme of regeneration works which will ensure that hosting the Ryder Cup in Newport leaves a permanent legacy that will remain long after the golf has finished.
The Ryder Cup is one of the world’s largest sporting events, and hosting it will give Newport a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to promote itself on the world stage.
As well as the economic activity surrounding the event itself, it will also raise our profile globally and help attract investment in the future.
Hosting the Ryder Cup has brought huge benefits for Newport that would not have happened without it.
The city enhancement programme, funded by a £3.8m grant from the Assembly, will see a city-wide improvement programme ensuring a long lasting legacy. Key projects include the restoration of the Transporter Bridge; environmental enhancements to key transport gateways including M4 junctions and Heidenheim Drive; improved public spaces including riverfront walkways, John Frost Square and bus station area; improved signage for pedestrians in the city centre; and improvements to landmark features including the former Rising Sun, Bridge Street bridge and the Cenotaph.
A legacy for young people. The Ryder Cup Legacy Fund (Welsh Assembly Government supported by the European Tour, Professional Golfers Association and Golf Union Wales) has funded two new facilities at Caerleon and Llanwern, both of which are designed to encourage new people to take up the sport. Through Golf Development Wales and Newport sports development, golf is being opened up to new audiences – hundreds of young people are now playing golf for the first time.
The Newport 2010 Festival will be a celebration of everything positive about Newport. It will bring together communities and get people feeling good about Newport, creating a long lasting legacy for communities in terms of regeneration, community engagement, sport and young people.
An exciting events programme, supported by the Welsh Assembly, has been developed and include a spectacular event, The Big Splash and stunning city dressing projects such as the SuperDragons that will encourage all Newport residents to get involved and rediscover their own city through the SuperDragon trail.
Visit www.newport.gov.uk/newportfestival for more information.
Newport is leading the world by creating a Ryder Cup themed curriculum for children. This will be shared with schools across Wales in 2010 and the world including Medina County in the US, the next host of the Ryder Cup.
Since they were announced as The Ryder Cup host city, the number of golf tourists coming to Wales has increased roughly fivefold. In 2008, the total revenue from golf tourism in Wales was £29.4 million.
The Ryder Cup provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for Newport to tell the world what a great place it is – Yahoo and the Observer have already featured Newport as one of the top destinations in the world to visit in 2010 because of The Ryder Cup.
A host of Welsh companies have also benefited by being awarded contracts linked to The 2010 Ryder Cup, including the design and construction of the Twenty Ten Course and Clubhouse at Celtic Manor Resort.
Companies that have secured contracts include Alun Griffiths Construction (Abergavenny), Hansons of Bedwas, Inturf of Bridgend, HLN Architects, Lewis and Lewis of Newport, Whitehead Electrical, Paramount Office Interiors and Afan Landscapes.
Local company Asbri Golf has also secured a lucrative license agreement within the Welsh market to design and supply official merchandise for The 2010 Ryder Cup.
Jim Davies Civil Engineering of Blackwood and The Cuddy Group who are based in Neath have been appointed to construct the park and ride sites at Tredegar House and Llanwern. The Tredegar House project itself will create a lasting legacy for Newport providing improved facilities for the future events.
The Welsh Assembly has also already invested in key improvements to the Coldra roundabout (M4 Junction 24) which have benefited residents and commuters alike.
