MCKINNEY (WBAP/KLIF News ) – The AT&T Byron Nelson Golf Tournament is underway at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney and brings over 40,000 people from all over the world each day to the Collin County city.
The event is in its third year in McKinney and is estimated to have a $50 million dollar impact to the area.
“This event is months in the making but all the tourism that is coming and the employment, the direct and indirect induced jobs. It’s a huge impact for our community,” said McKinney Mayor George Fuller.
McKinney officials note that the half-cent sales tax revenue generated from the event is reinvested to enhance the community.
“When people buy something in the city 8.25 percent sales tax. 6.25 goes to the state and two cents stay in the city. One cent goes to the general fund and one penny gets split between the Economic Development Corporation and Community Development Corporation. That amounts to about $22 million for the EDC and CDC a year. That goes back into the community building parks, amenities and quality of life projects on the community development side and economic development on the economic side. It’s huge benefit to the community to be able to capture those sales tax dollars,” said Mayor Fuller.
While the stop on the PGA tour is very popular, some North Texans are paying closer attention to security in the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets Mall last Saturday that claimed the lives of eight people. The gunman was shot and killed by an Allen police officer responding to another call.
Mayor Fuller is assuring patrons and residents that leaders have made sure systems are in place to prevent and respond to any outbreaks of violence.
“We plan for this. Our police department, our first responders and our fire department are all on site. They put together a safety plan, a traffic plan from a year in advance. We’re hand and hand with the salesman ship club and the Byron Nelson event,” he said.
The mayor encourages anyone who has questions about parking to visit AT&TByronNelson.org to check out parking lots and any restrictions set up around the city.
The four-day televised event ends on Sunday.
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