February through April are jam-packed with some of the most exciting competitions in professional sports and other special events in Scottsdale, Arizona, providing fun tie-ins for groups meeting. From football, baseball, and golf to jazz, horses, and heritage celebrations, there is something for all interests. The only hitch may be making enough time on the agenda and securing accommodations during busy times.
Sports Galore
Also known as “The Greatest Show on Grass,” the WM Phoenix Open hosted by TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is one of the first stopes on the PGA Tour. Over 700,000 fans attend annually and more than $165 million has been raised for charities in the tournament’s 85-year history. Along with great golf, the Feb. 6-12 schedule features the San Tan Ford Special Olympics Putting Challenge (Feb. 7) and concerts by Maroon 5 and Walker Hayes (Feb. 4), Jason Aldean (Feb. 9), Machine Gun Kelly (Feb. 10), and The Chainsmokers (Feb. 11).
Just as the WM Phoenix Open is wrapping up, in comes Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in nearby Glendale. Scottsdale is celebrating by opening its downtown streets for the Historic Old Town ESPN Main Street Tailgate, a five-day pregame party on Feb. 8-12. The Old West-style event will serve as the backdrop for much of the ESPN’s pregame coverage, including “NFL Live” and “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
Every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (8 a.m. to noon on game day), between ESPN filming, there will be unique entertainment and events with acts like Sprague the Singing Cowboy, Bronze Cowboy living statue, and trick roper and gunslinger Johnny Hotshot. Guests also can play life-size games and enjoy delicious dining, giveaways, photo opportunities, and a chance to make a cameo on live TV.
Baseball spring training in the Arizona sunshine has been a tradition for teams and devoted fans since 1947. The Scottsdale area is the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium and the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks at nearby Salt River Fields. See if your meeting overlaps with all the action from Feb. 25-March 28.
Western Heritage & Music
The city of Scottsdale’s annual Western Week returns to Old Town on Jan. 28-Feb. 5, featuring signature events such as Parada Del Sol Parade, Hashknife Pony Express Arrival, and Arizona Indian Festival that celebrates the city’s rich Western roots and Native American heritage. Also take part in all the other happenings and the cultural exhibits at Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum and Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.
From Feb. 16-26, football mania will be replaced by an equestrian extravaganza at WestWorld in Scottsdale. The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is the largest Arabian horse show in the world with over 2,400 horses, 300,000 attendees, and equestrians from around the world competing to win the American Cup Championship.
Switching to the music scene, the local Musical Instrument Museum is presenting its winter/spring 2023 concert series from now through April 30. Multiple genres are highlighted across 40 shows by renowned artists such as Steven Page, formerly of Barenaked Ladies; Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard; and the Blues Music Award-winning, multi-instrumentalist Vanessa Collier.
The focus is more streamlined at Scottsdale Jazz Festival at Scottsdale Civic Center on April 29-30. The festival honors International Jazz Day and features a spectacular lineup of Richard Elliot, Carlos Rivas, Jesse McGuire, and Jaleo Afro Cuban ensemble.
