Report: TGL postpones launch to 2025 following damage to venue
The TGL has postponed its inaugural season to 2025 following extensive damage to its Florida venue, reports the Sports Business Journal's Josh Carpenter.
The new tech-infused golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's company, TMRW Sports, was initially set to kick off on Jan. 9, 2024. It will follow a similar timeframe in 2025.
Postponing for a shorter time would likely have impacted ESPN's TV windows as well as players' individual schedules since the TGL season was expected to conclude in April, Carpenter added.
The SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was specifically built to support the TGL, but the roof collapsed following a temporary power outage on Tuesday.
🚨⛳️😓 #WATCH: A drone video shows the extensive damage done to the dome at the SoFi Center, home to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new @tglgolf simulator league.
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 17, 2023
(Via: @pbpost) pic.twitter.com/t1J3kOQIlu
Builders broke ground on the venue in February 2023, less than one year before the TGL was slated to begin.
"We are disappointed with the delay but thankful that no one was injured and grateful for the overwhelming support from our athletes, teams, Palm Beach State College and business partners," TMRW Sports CEO Mike McCarley said in a statement to the Sports Business Journal.
"Their steadfast belief in the success of TGL and their alignment with the decision to postpone the inaugural season will allow us to regroup and return with the best product possible at our preferred time on the sports calendar."
The simulator league is comprised of six four-player teams based out of Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Jupiter, Florida.
Woods owns and was set to play for the Jupiter team, while McIlroy headlines Boston's roster.