Portrush Open Delivers Record Crowds, Global Spotlight And Major Economic Boost

Portrush’s second hosting of The Open Championship in six years has delivered a wave of economic gains, soaring visitor numbers and unprecedented international exposure, according to a new report set to be presented to the Leisure and Development Committee next week. 

The 153rd Open, held in July 2025 at Royal Portrush, drew 278,000 spectators across the week – the largest attendance for any Open held outside St Andrews and 40,000 more than the 2019 championship. Even practice days sold out.

Council officials described the global event as “hugely successful”, pointing to months of planning, a broad multi-agency effort and a largely positive response from residents and businesses.

Economic impact ‘almost doubled’ since 2019

The championship generated an estimated £280 million for Northern Ireland’s economy – almost double the impact recorded when the tournament last came to Portrush. Around £43.7 million of that was spent directly in the Causeway Coast and Glens area.

An additional £191 million worth of international marketing value was attributed to worldwide television coverage, with both Sky Sports and NBC/Peacock broadcasting extensive footage of the North Coast’s scenery. Sky recorded its highest Open viewership to date, with 21.2 million viewer hours.

Visitors from across the globe

Sixty per cent of spectators travelled from outside Northern Ireland, including tens of thousands from England, the Republic of Ireland and the USA. More than half of these visitors extended their stay by at least three days, and more than a third also played golf elsewhere in Northern Ireland during their visit.

A temporary camping village at Ulster University’s Coleraine campus provided 11,500 bed nights, further boosting local hospitality.

Portrush businesses divided but optimistic

A post-event survey of local businesses found mixed trading results:

• 37% reported increased sales,

• 37% reported a decrease,

• while others were unsure of the overall impact.

However, nearly three-quarters still felt the championship was important to the wider borough.

Residents were more emphatic, with 90% agreeing that hosting the event was important for the area and 80% saying it positively raised the borough’s profile. Only 3.6% felt the event had a negative impact.

A town under pressure – and a system tested

With Portrush’s population standing at around 6,500, Council acknowledged the significant strain placed on the town. More than 1,100 parking spaces were removed to facilitate event infrastructure, and hundreds of households experienced temporary parking restrictions.

In response, the Council issued over 700 parking passes, created three temporary car parks and ran extensive communications campaigns. None of the temporary car parks reached capacity, allowing them to open to visitors later in the day, easing congestion.  

Public transport also came under heavy pressure. While buses ran on enhanced timetables, the Ballycastle service was described as “under-resourced”, though additional vehicles were drafted in during peak times.

A community stage and a legacy programme

Away from the fairways, Council delivered a five-day “Our Town Is Open” festival at Kerr Street Green and the Portrush Amphitheatre, attracting more than 18,000 visitors despite bouts of bad weather.

Local groups also benefited from the R&A’s £100,000 Legacy Fund, supporting initiatives ranging from coastal clean-ups and youth football projects to heritage walking tours and community hall upgrades.

Council under budget

The report notes that the Council had agreed a budget of £365,000 for its role in delivering the Open, but by late autumn had spent just under half of that figure. Officers expect the final total to remain “significantly under budget”.

Praise for staff and partners

A wide range of agencies were involved in event planning, from the PSNI and Translink to medical teams, environmental health officers and volunteers. The report praises strong coordination, smoother crowd movements compared with 2019, and enhanced CCTV coverage.

It also highlights lessons for future major events, including earlier communications, clearer role definitions, and improvements to safety protocols and transport planning.

The full report can be read here.