City of Indian Wells to Discuss Hosting 2007 Skins Game

During a special session in early October, Indian Wells City Council voted its approval for City Manager Greg Johnson to enter into negotiations with IMG Worldwide Inc. for the city to potentially host the LG Skins Game next year at the new Celebrity Course at the Indian Wells Golf Resort. The negotiations could result in an agreement for Indian Wells to sponsor and host The Skins Game from 2007 through 2009. The 2006 event is being played at Trilogy Golf in La Quinta.

“We had heard that there was a chance that The Skins Game would leave the valley and we certainly did not want that to happen,” said Indian Wells Mayor Ed Monarch. “Additionally, hosting both The Skins Game and the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells would position Indian Wells as a world-wide sports destination, guaranteed to increase marketing exposure and, subsequently, give a major boost to valley tourism and economic prosperity.”

Long an annual Thanksgiving tradition, The Skins Game involves four of the PGA Tour or LPGA Tour’s top golfers competing for $1 million in prize money. The two-day event is annually one of golf’s highest rated telecasts, reaching over 119 million households internationally. To be televised by ABC Sports, the 2007 Skins Game includes an 18-hole golf tournament, with nine holes Saturday and the final nine on Sunday, as well as a one-day Pro-Am on the Friday before.

According to the proposal submitted by IMG to Indian Wells’ officials, the city’s return on investment for hosting the event over a three-year period is estimated at $4.3 million.