DraftKings and the PGA are giving us a sneak peek of the planned DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale. The new state-of-the-art venue is set to open in the fall of 2023.
The wildly popular golf course hosts the annual Waste Management Phoenix Open, also known as “The Greatest Show On Grass.” Soon, folks that show up to the party will be able to place bets on their favorite golfers in person.
The news comes a year after the project was made possible with the legalization of sports betting in Arizona. We’ve got the details on the highly-anticipated retail sportsbook.
What Arizona’s DraftKings retail sportsbook will look like
The Scottsdale City Council approved plans for the DraftKings retail sportsbook. It will be located directly across from the clubhouse of the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale. With fully approved planning permission, computer-rendered designs have been made available to the public.
DraftKings is building a one-story, 12,000-square-foot venue. It will be able to seat 390 people and will include a high-end restaurant. There will also be over 3,400 square feet of video walls and screens, a beautiful outdoor patio area, VIP cabanas and fire pits.
Michael Kibort, DraftKings senior director of retail sportsbook, called the plan “one-of-a-kind.” He also says it will bring a unique social experience for customers.
“What we have put together is a very unique viewing and entertainment experience with over 3,000 square feet of video screens throughout the venue. It also has a unique indoor and outdoor feel with a little bit of something for everyone.”
Customers will find around 40 sports betting kiosks and seven ticket windows. There, bettors will find wagering options similar to the ones available on the DraftKings Arizona Sportsbook online site.
The sportsbook will also have complimentary high-speed internet services. Meanwhile, the restaurant will feature elevated domestic fare, 12 beers on tap and mixed drinks.
Guests must be 21 years of age or older to enter the wagering lounge inside the sportsbook. However, anyone, kids included, will be able to enjoy the restaurant and patio areas.
Hours of operation still need to be worked out. However, the sportsbook will be open daily and stay open into the evening so that fans can enjoy all major sporting events.
How sportsbook will affect Scottsdale & the WM Phoenix Open
Known as the “19th hole,” the new DraftKings Sportsbook is set to launch in 2023. It will be open to the general public year-round, except during the WM Phoenix Open, when it will be used for hospitality purposes. There will also be special events held during tournament weeks.
“When DraftKings became the first official betting operator of the PGA Tour last summer, a number of possibilities opened up to innovate together,” said Ezra Kucharz, DraftKings chief business officer.
The sportsbook will be located at the southeast corner of Greenway-Hayden and Bell Road. It will be directly across from the Stadium Course clubhouse. Furthermore, the main entrance for the WM Phoenix Open will be re-routed slightly.
The city of Scottsdale and the PGA have had a deal in place since 1985 to lease and manage the golf course. That agreement was amended so the city will get a portion of gaming revenue from the sportsbook or a minimum annual payment of $170,000 in 2023 and 2024 and $225,000 in 2025. The minimum rent fee will increase by 3% yearly from 2026 until the end of the agreement.
Construction for the brand new retail sportsbook is set to begin in May.
TPC Scottsdale latest sports venue to offer in-person betting
Plans are now in place for the DraftKings retail sportsbook. Once it opens, Arizona will have four sports venues offering in-person sports betting.
The FanDuel Sportsbook at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, has been open since Sept. 9, 2021. The opening coincided with the official launch of legal sports betting in Arizona. It is now a hot spot for sports fans in Downtown Phoenix.
Meanwhile, the Caesars Sportsbook also opened up on Sept. 9, 2021. However, the operator is only running temporary betting windows outside of Chase Field with the help of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The official state-of-the-art venue, which will feature a sports bar-like atmosphere, is expected to open later this spring.
The Arizona Cardinals and BetMGM are hard at work building the BetMGM Sportsbook outside State Farm Stadium. The expectation is that it will open this fall in time for the 2022 NFL season.
