Wells Fargo Championship attracts more fans with new social aspects

CHARLOTTE — The Wells Fargo Championship will always draw golf fans, but the event wanted to attract a new audience this year.

The plan was to turn the golf tournament into a social event. The event partnered with Uber, which is offering Wells Fargo Championship specific shuttles to pick up and drop off fans.

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The tournament has also added a social media hub at the Green Mile Village, complete with desks, sofas and charging stations. These were the amenities used to attract ticket sales, not the world class golfers.

Organizers want the championship to be known not only as a place to watch golf, but as a place to be seen.

"It's always been out here, we've just never done a really good job of promoting it," said Kym Hougham, Wells Fargo Championship executive director. "And we're not trying to change the golf experience for the people that have been coming here for years and years, we're just doing some things that might attract that younger crowd in different ways."

So far, so good. The tournament was moved two weeks later in the schedule, causing a number of golf's biggest names to opt out of playing this week. Ticket sales have been brisk, and large crowds are expected through Sunday.

WSOC