Colorado's Economy Wins By Hosting The Solheim Cup

PARKER, Colo. (CBS4) - The 2013 Solheim Cup is a winner for Colorado's economy and is expected to bring millions to the metro area.

When the town of Parker was awarded hosting honors, town leaders knew they hit the jackpot.

"To bring this caliber of an event to Colorado and specifically to Parker, we will jump at that opportunity," Parker Mayor Mike Waid said.

The Solheim Cup is held every two years, featuring the best players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour and European members of the Ladies European Tour.

"A lot of 'USA! Go USA!' Flags everywhere, people have their cars decorated, so it's pretty neat," a fan said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Solheim Cup At Colorado Golf Club

The last time the cup was held in the U.S. in 2009 the Chicago area saw 110,000 in attendance and a nearly $20 million economic boost. In 2013's rebounding economy the impact is expected to be even greater.

"It's a great opportunity for these people to come, showcase our wonderful town, give them the opportunity to spend money at the local restaurants and stop by the local stores and support our local economy. It's a huge benefit and a huge boon for our community," Waid said.

With a population of just over 50,000, the flood of tourists is a shock to Main Street.

"I got here at 9 a.m. and we just died down, so we had lines out the door," Sidney Seymour with the Fika Coffee House said.

"We went to dinner last night it was an hour and a half wait," another fan said.

But with 2 years to prepare for the extra traffic, the town has been handling it in stride and taking advantage of the limelight.

"Having a tournament like this come into play, showing us on a national and international scale, just reinforces the fact that Parker really is the center of the universe," Waid said.

With the population nearly tripling in size and being in the national spotlight for the next couple of days, city leaders are hoping it is the boost they need to bring other big golf tournaments back to Colorado.

The tournament continues again Sunday with the closing ceremony taking place at 8:30 p.m.