Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Robert Miller, Executive Director of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, who shares a recap of the 2026 PGA tournament and offers an exciting preview of the 2027 event. Robert discusses the success of the 2026 FedEx St. Jude Championship, highlighting record-breaking achievements in hospitality and ticket revenue. He specifically praises the new Grounds Plus model, which provides food and non-alcoholic beverages to all attendees regardless of ticket type, noting it received excellent feedback and even attracted hospitality clients to the general grounds food offerings. The tournament’s success was further demonstrated by the presence of PGA Tour C-suite executives who came to witness the event’s popularity.
Robert discusses the significant economic impact of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Memphis, highlighting how the tournament attracts visitors from across the United States and internationally. He shares stories of companies bringing clients from distant locations, including a tire company from Arizona that brought people from Asia, as well as strong attendance from markets like Chicago and New York. Robert notes that visitors have positive experiences discovering Memphis’s culture and offerings, and leave wanting to come back the next year.
Robert discusses the tournament’s strong renewal rates from outside Tennessee in the nineties, indicating visitors are returning after experiencing Memphis. He highlights the significant charitable impact, noting that the 2025 tournament generated an $8 million donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, bringing the total to nearly $90 million over the tournament’s lifespan. Robert expresses excitement that the 2027 tournament is expected to cross the $100 million milestone for donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Robert explains that Joe Tomek’s promotion to Executive Director of the International President’s Cup in Australia was a positive development for Memphis, as it demonstrated the strong foundation they built together. Robert emphasizes that the local team in Memphis, including Nikki Paine and Jason Cockerham, was capable of continuing the tournament successfully, which gave Joe confidence to pursue the higher position. Robert notes that Joe remains connected to Memphis and continues to support the community initiatives he cared about during his time in the community.
Robert discusses plans for the 2027 tournament, emphasizing that it will be the final year for the current playoff format with the PGA Tour and in Memphis, featuring the top 70 golfers in the FedExCup playoffs. He highlights the coming enhancement the Grounds Plus model and the creation of new fan engagement areas, with improvements expected to be rolled out by February or March. Robert also notes the positive impact of the tournament on Memphis, citing high television ratings and increased national attention, and encourages local community involvement in the event.
The upcoming FedEx St. Jude Championship tournament is scheduled for August 9-15, 2027, at TPC Southwind. Robert encourages interested parties to visit the tournament website at FedExChampionship.com for information about sponsorships and hospitality, and offers to meet with business leaders in person at TPC Southwind for discussions about the tournament.
Visit https://www.fedexchampionship.com to learn more and get involved with the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
