Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have postponed the launch of their tech-infused TGL competition until 2025 due to damage to the Florida arena. The delay is attributed to the extensive repair time required and potential scheduling conflicts for television broadcasts and players.
The six-team league, originally set to debut on January 9 on ESPN and conclude before the Masters in April, faced an unforeseen setback when a power failure last week left it without a venue to play. Ownership and player rosters had already been announced, making the sudden change a significant disruption to the league’s plans, according to the New York Post.
The SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens experienced a setback on November 14 when a temporary power system and backup systems failed during construction. This failure led to the deflation of the arena’s air-supported dome section, causing damage.
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No injuries were reported, and the majority of the technology involved in the construction remained unaffected by the incident. Woods expressed confidence in the future success of TMRW Sports, a concept co-founded by Woods and McIlroy, despite recent setbacks.
The TMRW Sports concept involves team match play within a 250,000-square-foot arena at Palm Beach State College. The innovative design features shots into a significantly larger screen than a standard simulator for longer distances, and shots from 50 yards or closer are directed to a high-tech green complex that rotates on a turntable, providing a variety of shot scenarios.
Adjustments to timelines will be made following recent events, but Woods remains optimistic about the realization of this unique sports concept.
Instead of rushing repairs and likely playing a partial schedule, key partners, including TMRW Sports, ESPN, commercial sponsors, players, and ownership groups, opted to prioritize getting things right and ensuring a successful launch.
The league features full shots played off real grass or sand, and teams like Jupiter Links (co-owned by Woods) and Boston Commons (featuring McIlroy, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, and Tyrrell Hatton) will participate in this innovative golf concept set to debut in 2025. Other teams are based in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
ESPN’s executive vice president of programming and acquisitions, Robyn Durant, pledged his full support for TGL’s decision to postpone its debut, emphasizing the network’s unwavering belief in TGL’s vision.
Owners from various teams, including Fenway Sports Group (Boston), Arthur Blank (Atlanta Falcons owner), and Steven Cohen (New York Mets owner), have also voiced unanimous support for the decision to delay the launch by a year.
TGL has not disclosed a timeline or plans for repairing or potentially enhancing the SoFi Center following the recent setback. The arena, designed to accommodate up to 1,600 spectators, features a course roughly the size of a football field.
