It is never easy to start a new business. Even with all the money in the world backing it up, there are a few challenges to overcome. Many companies have popped up since 2020 that had such backing but never caught on. LIV Golf has been going through a similar struggle. Despite all the investment and star power, the league has yet to make a profit. There is hope for the league, however. For the Indianapolis event, LIV Golf managed to sell around 50K tickets.
LIV Golf’s Previous Struggles
Being a new league, LIV Golf not only had to sell itself to its investors but also to the audience. The ladder is something the league has struggled with. It has only recently managed to secure a broadcast deal with Fox Sports. Viewership tends to be just over 100k while the PGA draws in millions of viewers. All the while, spending is in the billions for the league. Things weren’t looking good for the league financially. Up til now, the league has been kept afloat purely by the investors from the PIF.
LIV Golf’s Indianapolis Event
This week, for the Indianapolis event, LIV Golf is seeing record ticket sales. As mentioned above, sales were nearly at 50K. The league has had its issues, but it does have a lot going for it. Sure, it doesn’t have the established name and history that the PGA has, but it does have the star power, along with the world tour aspect. The phrase “Golf but loud” is holding true. The concerts with big-name musicians are a big draw. Jason Derulo is performing this week during the event. Things have aligned just right for LIV Golf this week, and the players are taking notice. Joaquin Niemann observed it during the first round.
“It’s amazing,” Niemann said. “Since I arrived at the golf course, when I left the locker room and went to the golf course, I saw the amount of people, and I was super impressed. I actually didn’t have any expectations, and yeah, they definitely went past those. It was a lot of fun, especially obviously they love Bryson, and playing with him, you can feel how much of an atmosphere was out there. It was a lot of fun.”
A Good Week For The Renegade League
With all the ticket sales and attendance, LIV Golf Indianapolis is on track to be the biggest event in LIV’s short history. The crowds are feeling the energy, and the players are feeling good about it. Despite all the issues going against LIV since its inception, the league is getting a break with these numbers. The only thing left for LIV Golf to do is to keep the momentum going for itself. It is still a long journey for it to be legitimized in the golf world; there is still the sports side of this sports business to handle. The OWGR is still not awarding points for LIV events, and the PGA is still blocking LIV players from playing in its events. For now, though, LIV Golf can enjoy this moment of victory as the numbers soar for the week.
Main Photo Credit: © Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
