Everyone knows the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is the Waste Management Phoenix Open’s most famous hole. The hole itself is an unassuming 160-yard par 3, but come tournament week it accommodates nearly 20,000 fans in a stadium-like atmosphere – one of the most unique experiences on the PGA TOUR from both a fan and player perspective. The 2013 event will feature 172 skyboxes surrounding the 16th hole up 17 from the last year’s total of 155. That’s a lot of seats! And, while tournament officials have always said the “sky’s the limit,” we think we just hit our sky. While the 16th hole may not have any more room to grow, one thing’s for sure, it is and will continue to be one of the most exciting and electrifying holes on the PGA TOUR.
There are, however, plenty of other holes with ample room to grow. Take holes 17 and 18 for instance. The 2012 event saw the Greenskeeper area – arguably one of the best venues at the Waste Management Phoenix Open – move lakeside adjacent to the 17th green and across the pond from the 18th tee. The stadium at the 16th hole didn’t happen overnight and moving the Greenskeeper area at last year’s event was step one in an overall plan to elevate the excitement at tournaments finishing two holes. Step two involves adding additional skyboxes on both 17 and 18 which had 29 and 26 skyboxes respectively last year. The plan also calls for added general admission grandstand seating near the 17th green and we even have something special in store for our retired and active military personnel and their families as a way of saying thanks for all they do in support of this country. We’ll announce the specific details regarding the military-only venue in the coming weeks.
Long story short, spectators at the 2013 event can enjoy the added seats positioned around the property, specifically the last four holes coming down the stretch – 15, 16, 17 and 18. It’s just one of the many reasons the Waste Management Phoenix Open gets better and better year-after-year.