The Waste Management Phoenix Open continues to grow, with crowds reaching record levels again for this year’s event. Organizers say the event’s economic impact continues to grow as well.
The event at the TPC Scottsdale is billed as the biggest party on the PGA Tour.
Over 719,000 people came through the gates, smashing last year’s mark by nearly 65,000. According to the PGA, it was the largest attendance in golf history. On Saturday alone, nearly 217,000 crowded the galleries, the most ever on one course.
Tournament Director Carlos Sugich credits the numbers to unseasonably warm weather and added amenities to bring in more than just golf fans.
“We want to focus not so much on the numbers, but we want to focus on the experience to make sure we enhance the experience so people will keep coming back and back the tournament every year, because they have a place to, they have things to do and they can relax and have some fun." Sugich said.
According to a study by ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business, last year’s Phoenix Open generated nearly $400 million for the local economy, a number — like the others — expected to be surpassed this year.
