#PEOPLESOPEN

WM Phoenix Open

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR CONCERT IN THE COLISEUM PRESENTED BY SWIRE COCA-COLA WITH MAROON 5 AND WALKER HAYES SET TO TAKE THE STAGE AT THE ICONIC 16TH HOLE ON SATURDAY, FEB. 4

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1669999835802{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Tickets are on sale now for the return of the Concert in the Coliseum Presented by Swire Coca-Cola featuring GRAMMY award winning rock/pop band Maroon 5 and popular singer/songwriter Walker Hayes performing live from the iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, Feb. 4, prior to WM Phoenix Open week (Feb. 6-12).  This is the second year The Thunderbirds have hosted this unique concert inside one of sport’s most famous settings; last year Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion performed at the first ever Concert in the Coliseum.

Reserved seating starts at $200 and is located in the general admission bleacher seating areas greenside, while Platinum seating tickets are $450 and offer the closest and best views of the stage that will sit in the fairway at the 16th hole.  Platinum seating tickets also offer exclusive access to the 16th hole Loge venue with complimentary food and drinks.[/vc_column_text][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”large” url=”https://axs.queue-it.net/?c=axs&e=6096039171191″ align=”center” fullwidth=”true”]PURCHASE TICKETS NOW![/mk_button][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1669997036446{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Concert in the Coliseum Presented by Swire Coca-Cola is a 21-and-over event.

Walker Hayes will get the show rolling at approximately 5 p.m., while Maroon 5 will take the stage at approximately 7 p.m.  The concert will once again take place on a massive stage that will be built in the middle of the 16th hole strictly for this special Saturday night show.  Doors for this concert will open at 3 p.m.

Maroon 5 stands out as not only one of pop music’s most enduring artists, but also one of the 21st century’s biggest acts. Since they released their debut album, Songs About Jane, to date, the universally renowned Los Angeles band have achieved three GRAMMY® Awards and sold over 90 million in album sales and 550 million singles worldwide. Maroon 5 currently has the most Billion plus streamed songs by a group on Spotify, with 7, and have achieved 3 Diamond RIAA Certified records. They have sold over 7,500,000 tickets worldwide and next up, the band will close out their massive 2022 World Tour in Asia, notably selling out all three of their Dome Tour dates in Japan, totaling 120,000 tickets sold.

Walker Hayes is an American pop/country singer and songwriter who has released three studio albums as an artist – “Reason to Rhyme” in 2011, “Boom” in 2017, and “Country Stuff The Album” earlier this year. The musician hits the country pop genre having multiple singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. His highest-peaking single “Fancy Like” reached the No. 1 spot on both charts between late 2021 and early 2022. Riding off his recent success, Hayes released the EP “Country Stuff”. One of the tracks, “Fancy Like”, became a viral a hit thanks to TikTok and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, solidifying himself in the country music industry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

PHOENIX SUNS STARS DEVIN BOOKER AND CHRIS PAUL TO HEADLINE WM PHOENIX OPEN TEE-OFF LUNCHEON AT CHASE FIELD

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The Thunderbirds announced today Phoenix Suns superstars Devin Booker and Chris Paul will be the featured guests for the WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison Tee-Off Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 1, on the diamond at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.

Tickets are sold out. Please click here to join the waitlist. 

“The Tee-Off Luncheon is an extremely popular event in which we get to kick off Open season and tell the community what’s in store for the upcoming tournament,” said 2023 WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Pat Williams. “We’re especially excited to be joined by two of the Valley’s best athletes and hear their thoughts on not only their incredible NBA careers, but also how they feel about ‘The People’s Open’.”

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”medium” url=”mailto: tol@wmphoenixopen.com” target=”_blank” align=”center”]JOIN WAITLIST[/mk_button][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1667340926479{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Booker and Paul are influential athletes in the Valley, helping the Suns win a franchise-record 65 wins last year. Paul is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, granting him another nickname as “The Point God.” Currently in his 18th season, Paul has won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, an NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award, two Olympic gold medals, and led the NBA in assists five times and steals a record six times. Paul also has been selected to 12 NBA All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams, and nine NBA All-Defensive teams. In 2021, he was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Paul just recently became the third NBA player to surpass 11,000 career assists, and now trails only John Stockton (15,806) and Jason Kidd (12,091).  

Booker has risen to fame quickly in the league after becoming the youngest player to score 60 points in a game and just one of six NBA players to score 70 points when he dropped 70 on the Boston Celtics in 2017. Just last season Booker earned his first All-NBA First Team selection and was an MVP candidate. Other notable accolades include three NBA All-Star Game appearances, All-NBA First Team (2022), NBA All-Rookie First Team (2016), NBA Three Point Contest Champion (2018), and member of the USA Basketball team that took Gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  

Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. and the program will run from 12 – 1:30 p.m. Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall will once again act as emcee for the event.  

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GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING MAROON 5 TO TAKE THE STAGE AT THE ICONIC 16TH HOLE FOR YEAR TWO OF CONCERT IN THE COLISEUM PRESENTED BY SWIRE COCA-COLA

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[vc_row][vc_column][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”large” url=”https://www.axs.com/festivals/457760″ align=”center” fullwidth=”true”]Get Tickets Now![/mk_button][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1668807151557{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Thunderbirds – hosts of the [geoswitch][geoswitch_case country_code=”US” state_code=”AZ”]WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison[/geoswitch_case][geoswitch_case]WM Phoenix Open[/geoswitch_case][/geoswitch] – announced the return of the Concert in the Coliseum presented by Swire Coca- Cola as GRAMMY award winning rock/pop band Maroon 5 and popular singer/songwriter Walker Hayes are set to perform live from the iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, Feb. 4, prior to WM Phoenix Open week, which will take place Feb. 6-12.  This is the second year The Thunderbirds have hosted this unique concert inside one of sport’s most famous settings; last year Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion performed at the first ever Concert in the Coliseum.

General admission tickets for this special kickoff to WM Phoenix Open week will go on sale Friday, December 2nd at 10 a.m. at www.WMPhoenixOpen.com.  The Concert in the Coliseum presented by Swire Coca-Cola is a 21-and-over event.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”35299″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1668708031116{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Walker Hayes will get the show rolling at approximately 5 p.m., while Maroon 5 will take the stage at approximately 7 p.m.  The concert will once again take place on a massive stage that will be built in the middle of the 16th hole strictly for this special Saturday night show.  Doors for this concert will open at 3:30 p.m.

“Last year’s inaugural Concert in the Coliseum was a huge success, so of course we are thrilled to run it back again for 2023,” said WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Pat Williams.  “We are excited to host Maroon 5 and Walker Hayes this year as we kick off tournament week in style, with a great show at the iconic 16th hole.”

Maroon 5 stands out as not only one of pop music’s most enduring artists, but also one of the 21st century’s biggest acts. Since they released their debut album, Songs About Jane, to date, the universally renowned Los Angeles band have achieved three GRAMMY® Awards and sold over 90 million in album sales and 550 million singles worldwide. Maroon 5 currently has the most Billion plus streamed songs by a group on Spotify, with 7, and have achieved 3 Diamond RIAA Certified records. They have sold over 7,500,000 tickets worldwide and next up, the band will close out their massive 2022 World Tour in Asia, notably selling out all three of their Dome Tour dates in Japan, totaling 120,000 tickets sold.

Walker Hayes is an American country singer and songwriter who has released three studio albums as an artist – “Reason to Rhyme” in 2011, “Boom” in 2017, and “Country Stuff The Album” earlier this year. The musician hits the country genre having multiple singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. His highest-peaking single “Fancy Like” reached the No. 1 spot on both charts between late 2021 and early 2022. Riding off his recent success, Hayes released the EP “Country Stuff”. One of the tracks, “Fancy Like”, became a viral a hit thanks to TikTok and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, solidifying himself in the country music industry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

WM PHOENIX OPEN RECEIVES UNPRECEDENTED COMPETITIVE COMMITMENT FROM PGA TOUR’S TOP STARS FOR 2023 EVENT

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The PGA TOUR announced today the WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison was named as one of four additional events with the unprecedented competitive commitment from the PGA TOUR’s top 20 players from its 2022 Player Impact Program. The WM Phoenix Open will also feature an elevated prize purse increasing from $8.2 million in 2022 to $20 million for this year’s edition of “The People’s Open”. With this announcement, The WM Phoenix Open will join 11 other tournaments with a commitment from the TOUR’s top players to compete and feature purse sizes of $20 million. Both the field size of 132 players and the eligibility criteria remain unchanged for 2023.

The Player Impact Program rewards the top 20 TOUR members who positively impact the TOUR, both on and off the course.

“We are obviously extremely excited and honored for the WM Phoenix Open to have an elevated purse and feature so many of the best players in the world for the 2023 PGA TOUR season,” said 2023 Tournament Chairman Pat Williams.  “We traditionally showcase top-notch fields with the world’s best players year in and year out, but this will ensure the participation of the top players in the world at the WM Phoenix Open in 2023.  This is a huge win for our fans, they can know with certainty that their favorite PGA TOUR players will be competing at TPC Scottsdale in February.”

In August, PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan announced the first eight elevated events for the 2022-2023 season, which included three FedEx Cup playoff stops (FedEx St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship, TOUR Championship), three player-hosted invitationals (Genesis, Arnold Palmer, Memorial), the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, and the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

“We’re thrilled the WM Phoenix Open’s storied history and The Thunderbirds 88 years of work for the Phoenix community put us in the running,” Williams said.  “This is also a credit to the hundreds of thousands of fans that show up every year making our event the best attended on the PGA TOUR.  With this announcement, The Thunderbirds and our great partner and title

Construction for 2023 WM Phoenix Open Underway

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The WM Phoenix Open is more than four months away- 133 days to be exact – and the preparation for next year’s tournament is well underway with construction beginning to take shape at TPC Scottsdale. The tournament host Thunderbirds started construction mid-September to build the luxurious hospitality suites, Stadium Stretch, Coliseum at 16, newly renovated Talking Stick Resort Fan Zone, grandstands and bleachers that are seen at every WM Phoenix Open.

Construction started on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022 at Cove, at 17, while construction on the iconic 16th hole and the rest of the WMPO build will begin the first week of October (Oct. 3, 2022).

Here’s a sneak peek of the newly released construction images at the Cove, we can’t wait to host the greatest and loudest fans in golf for the 2023 WM Phoenix Open.[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”35174,35172,35168″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

2022 WM Phoenix Open and The Thunderbirds Raise More Than $10 Million for Arizona Charities

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THE THUNDERBIRDS HAVE RAISED MORE THAN $176 MILLION IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY, $110 MILLION WITH WM AS TITLE SPONSOR

The Thunderbirds – hosts of the WM Phoenix Open – announced the 2022 edition of “The People’s Open” raised more than $10 million ($10,500,000) to be awarded to Arizona charities.  This marks the fifth time in tournament history The Thunderbirds and the WM Phoenix Open have raised more than $10 million in charitable dollars in a single tournament.

“Our Arizona communities coming together to promote and rally behind this world-class event means so much to us and the hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations it supports,” said Michael Golding, current Big Chief of The Thunderbirds. “We are extraordinarily proud of the $10 million raised for Arizona charities during a major bounce back year for us, which positively shows the commitment and togetherness of WM and the PGA TOUR, as well as our incredible fans, sponsors and volunteers.”

The Thunderbirds and the WM Phoenix Open have now raised more than $110 million ($110,058,224) since 2010 when WM was named title sponsor, and in its 87-year history has raised more than $176 million ($176,104,790) for Arizona charities.

“Congratulations to The Thunderbirds for once again raising the charitable giving bar and helping hundreds of Arizona’s charities through the WM Phoenix Open,” said WM President and CEO Jim Fish. “As we approach our 14th year as title sponsor of this PGA TOUR event, we are proud of the significant positive results this tournament has delivered for communities and the environment.”

The announcement was made at Hospice of the Valley’s new Dementia Care and Education Campus, a project that officially opened in April 2022.  The $150,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities will support the Art and Activity Rooms at the Adult Day Club.

The Dementia Care and Education Campus is a 3.2-acre facility that will care for people living with all types and all stages of dementia, providing education and support from the time of diagnosis through the hospice journey, along with full-spectrum care and support for family members. In addition to an Assisted Living Center and a dementia Hospice Inpatient Home, it also features an intergenerational Adult Center that promotes meaningful interaction with preschoolers in the adjacent Child Center.

The Community Education Center brings together people from all walks of life, from healthcare professionals to family caregivers, sharing best practices and providing support. The center will also help train a dementia care workforce for the future.

“The generosity of The Thunderbirds and Thunderbirds Charities makes a huge and lasting impact on families who need help navigating the challenging dementia journey,” said Debbie Shumway, Hospice of the Valley’s executive director. “Together, we are enhancing quality of life, supporting family and professional caregivers, and providing education and training to help our whole community ‘live well’ with dementia.”

The 2023 WM Phoenix Open will take place Feb. 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale. “The People’s Open” has been named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR four times to acknowledge the tournament’s legendary status as one the most unique events in golf. The 2023 edition will mark the 88th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the 14th with WM as title sponsor.  For more information visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.

Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament. The Thunderbirds Charities Board consists of 15 board members from varying professional backgrounds. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The organization’s giving is directed toward organizations based or with a significant presence in Arizona. The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members. For more information on The Thunderbirds or Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.

YEAR-BY-YEAR BREAKDOWN OF DOLLARS RAISED SINCE 2010:

2010    $4,429,266

2011    $4,053,962

2012    $5,552,416

2013    $6,214,711

2014    $7,061,282

2015    $9,325,732

2016    $9,369,873

2017    $10,147,441

2018    $12,263,207

2019    $13,254,334

2020    $14,036,000

2021    $3,850,000

2022    $10,500,000

TOTAL $110,058,224