Large crowds closes gates at WM Phoenix Open

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Many golf fans will be disappointed they won’t be able to see the greatest show on grass despite having a ticket. On Saturday, the WM Phoenix Open announced they have temporarily closed the entrance gates due to larger than usual crowds.

The WM Phoenix Open posted the announcement on X, around 3 p.m. saying that the entrance gates are temporarily closed and shuttle service to the event is also on hold. However, the shuttle service to the back parking lots continues to operate. The Scottsdale Police Department said alcohol sales also stopped at certain locations inside the gates due to the larger crowds.

“The entry was put on pause to ensure the safe movement of attendees to and from the event. This has been done in previous years when there are larger than usual crowds. The gate was temporarily closed to let people inside the venue move around or exit, before letting others through the gate,” said Aaron Bolin, Public Information Officer with the Scottsdale Police Department.

The closure comes after the WM Phoenix Open announced last week that tickets for Friday and Saturday of the open were completely sold out, and tournament officials also put a cap on ticket sales for the busiest days of the week.

The WM Phoenix Open didn’t say if the gates reopened; however, play was suspended due to darkness around 6:15 p.m.

Due to larger than usual crowds, the WM Phoenix Open entrance gates are temporarily closed and shuttle service to the event is on hold. Shuttle service back to parking lots will remain running. Regularly check our channels for updates. pic.twitter.com/NAi1nYuuCu
— WM Phoenix Open (@WMPhoenixOpen) February 10, 2024

WM Phoenix Open officials released a statement regarding Saturday’s issues.

As an organization, our fans and their safety is our top priority.
Due to steady rainfall in Scottsdale this week that created deteriorating course conditions, we unfortunately had to close the gates at the tournament entrance and stop allowing fans to enter the golf course on Saturday afternoon.
The stadium-style course layout at TPC Scottsdale which features large banks for crowds to stand and sit, were soggy and unusable. This pushed patrons who would normally congregate in those areas into high-foot-traffic areas causing severe congestion at key points on event grounds including the entrance and exit.
After consulting with event partners and officials, we made the decision to temporarily close the tournament entrance to alleviate crowding in those areas in the interest of public safety.
We know that fans with Saturday tickets were turned away. The Thunderbirds as an organization are gathering more details and discussing options on how to remedy their concerns.
To the greatest fans in golf, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused as we always strive to create the best event possible.
The Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds

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