TopGolf will open its second New York location at the CityGate shopping center in Brighton. CityGate was bought by Streamline Real Estate Partners, LLC, a development firm based in Fairport, last September. Eight vacant storefronts are waiting to be filled.
Construction for TopGolf, a thrilling addition to the CityGate landscape, is set to commence this spring alongside a hotel. CityGate, already home to Rochester’s only Costco and REI Co-op, will now boast a 48,282-square-foot facility with two floors, housing nearly 80 covered driving range bays and a 205-yard-long outfield. TopGolf, known for its extensive indoor and outdoor entertainment, complete with a restaurant, bar, outdoor seating, and live music, offers a range of golf-based games designed to be inclusive to beginners and experts. With over seventy storefronts worldwide, TopGolf is a global phenomenon, and its arrival in Brighton will surely be a game-changer.
However, only some people are enthusiastic about the prospect of a TopGolf at CityGate. The company’s application for tax breaks through the County of Monrow Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) has raised concerns about future employees’ economic credibility and long-term financial success. Some local officials are disputing the promises made by TopGolf on their COMIDA application, highlighting potential risks associated with construction costs.
The application promises that 131 full-time positions and 162 part-time positions will be created for the new facility. TopGolf estimated that the venue would bring in 250,000 visitors annually from Upstate New York and neighboring states, generate $150 million in local economic impact over the next decade, and create nearly 300 permanent jobs. County Legislator Rachel Barnhart called these estimates “a sand trap for Monrow Country taxpayers,” noting that the company has a history of overinflating employment projections. TopGolf claimed its Long Island location would create 500 jobs in a 2021 press release. Still, the area has hired only 159 full-time employees, according to a report from the Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency.
The Brookhaven IDA reported that Long Island TopGolf location employees had an average salary of $30,000 annually in 2022. Still, the Monroe County application promised an average salary of $42,332 over ten years. Barnhart argues that part-time employees who will not receive benefits will need public assistance like SNAP and Medicaid.
“By giving TopGolf taxpayer dollars, we would be hurting other local restaurants and entertainment businesses, which would in effect, be subsidizing the competition,” County Legislator Barnhart said, presenting a contrasting view. “As for the claim TopGolf would be a tourist attraction, to my knowledge, COMIDA has not done an independent analysis. Such an analysis should be able to tell us what percentage of customers are anticipated to come from outside the metro area, as well as their projected spending.” This debate over the potential impact of TopGolf on the local economy is crucial, and the public’s understanding of it is essential.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bellow’s views on the matter were quite different. “This is great news for Monroe County,” he said after COMIDA approved TopGolf’s application. “Adding TopGolf to CityGate doesn’t just give us a premier entertainment and tourism destination; the decision to build one of just 100 TopGolf facilities in the nation right here in Brighton signifies the strength and potential of our local economy.”
