Residents of Oakmont, Verona and Plum are bracing for the onslaught of out-of-towners the U.S. Open will bring.
However, before the prolonged rush-hour traffic and battles for parking begin, residents are invited to party.
The Oakmont and Verona Chambers of Commerce have teamed up to plan an Open-themed block party on Sunday, June 8, in Verona’s Railroad Park to kick off the June 9 start of the tournament’s practice rounds.
The four-day tournament starts on Thursday, June 12, and ends on Father’s Day, which is Sunday, June 15.
“It’ll be an open street-type of celebration,” said Amanda Allis, director of membership and events for Oakmont Chamber of Commerce. “Anyone who wants to attend. Let’s just get them out and have a good time.”
The event will feature food trucks and live music from the Oakmont Lions Club Band, a DJ and a local band. Allis said the day will be filled with family-friendly activities including golf-themed challenges.
“We’re going to have a putting green, a chipping game like corn hole, but with a golf club … a drawing where people guess how many golf tees are in a container,” Allis said. “Overall, there’s going to be seven golf-themed games you can play.”
During the event, there will be a shuttle provided by the USGA that will transport people back and forth between the party and the U.S. Open merchandise tent at the Oakmont Country Club. The tent will be opening that weekend.
Allis said a stop will be located at Center and Railroad avenues in Verona.
She said the goal of the event is to include as many people as possible. With local businesses donating drinks and other supplies, the event is a little more affordable for all community members, Allis said.
“We’ll have accessibility for people who can’t afford, necessarily, to go to these events normally so everybody gets something,” she said. “We want this whole thing to be super inclusive.”
She said not only will the event give a little love to the USGA, it will help bring the two communities together, which was one of her goals for the year as director of membership and events.
“I think this joint venture is something needed for both communities considering we’re known as the Twin Boroughs,” said Thomas Dessell, president of the Verona Chamber of Commerce. “It can only enhance the business in our communities and can only make things bigger and better in the future.”
The block party is one step in a plan to revamp the borough’s chamber, Dessell previously told TribLive.
Meet the USGA
If people don’t want to wait until June 8 to start the celebration, the Oakmont Chamber will be hosting a Meet the USGA event on Thursday, May 29, at The Oaks Theater on Allegheny River Boulevard.
Beginning at 6 p.m., representatives of the USGA will visit the theater with the 18-inch, sterling silver U.S. Open Championship Trophy for photos.
“This will be the last time the trophy will be out in public because it’s needed for the tournament,” Allis said.
The floor also will be opened for questions about the tournament and the association.
“(Attendees) will just get to talk to them,” Allis said. “They can talk to them about what the USGA is, what they do and how they’re assisting the community.”
Allis said not everyone is pleased that the Open is coming to Oakmont because of the extreme effect the event has on residents’ day-to-day lives. She said the forum will give people the opportunity to get to know the USGA and what its mission is.
Tickets to the event are free and are available on The Oaks Theater’s website. Pre-registration is required because of space limitations.
Allis said the Oakmont Chamber is discussing a third community event, but nothing had been confirmed as of May 7.