Key Milwaukee

October 2015

An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/576091

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 19 of 63

20 keymilwaukee.com In case you haven't heard or have been asleep for the past 3-4 years, Southeastern Wisconsin is hosting arguably golf's biggest event in 2017, the US Open. Erin Hills Golf Course will be the site, about five miles south of the city of Hartford; 35 miles northwest of downtown Milwaukee; and two miles west of the national Catholic shrine, Holy Hill. In fact, other than structures on the course itself, Holy Hill is the only building visible from Erin Hills, making it a fitting place to play such a 'silent' and introspective game. To give readers and fans a preview of what is required to stage such a spectacle, KEY Milwaukee went to the USGA (United States Golf Association) to see what it takes. Some of the jaw-dropping facts include: About 300 tents, ranging in size from 100 sq. ft. to 39,000 sq. ft. (merchandise pavilion), will be erected on the 650-acre site during the week-long event. Approximately 400,000 sq. ft. of canvas will be used for those tents, enough to cover Lam - beau Field seven times. The tents will cover 650,000 sq. ft. (15 acres) of floorspace or the equivalent of about 30 floors of the 42-story US Bank Center in downtown Milwaukee, the state's tallest building. Enough heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment for 1,300 homes will be brought in with enough electrical capac - ity (22 megawatts) to power 4,500 homes. Of the 300 tents, about 25 will be for concessions to help slake fans' thirst and keep them from starving as they traverse the rolling hills and prairie of the almost 8,000 yard course. To run those stands, local vendors and caterers will be sourced beginning in 2017. The typical US Open gen - erates an average of $135-145 million in local revenue. While grandstand seating is still being determined, a typical US Open has 15-20 grand - stand locations accounting for 16,000-18,000 seats. Approximately 15 miles of chain link fence will be erected on the property; 110 office trailers will be brought onsite. To maintain the course during the event, 45 staff members and 100+ volunteers will cut, rake, roll, trim, fill and WOW! Erin Hills prepares for the 2017 US Open Photo by Paul Hundley Photo by Paul Hundley

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Key Milwaukee - October 2015