Activities in Scottsdale
To say there is a lot going on in Scottsdale would be an understatement. The city is a growing, thriving and healthy environment for the approximately quarter of a million people who proudly call it home. Scottsdale boasts championship golf, several major sports teams, the most exciting car auction in the country, fine dining, outstanding shopping, one of the top art gallery destinations, and outdoor activities to suit almost anyone.
Below are just a few of the activities that can be enjoyed in the Scottsdale area.
Arizona Sports Teams
Baseball – The Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks, affectionately referred to as the D-Backs or the Snakes, were the product of a decision by Jerry Colangelo in 1993 to form an ownership group and apply for a Major League Baseball expansion team. Joe Garagiola, Jr. would become the team’s first General Manager.
During their first five seasons, the Diamondbacks won three division titles (1999, 2001, & 2002) and one World Series! Some of the magic has faded a bit but there are many avid D-Backs fans now in the Valley.
The Arizona Diamondbacks Website
Football – The Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are the oldest existing professional American football club! They got their start in 1898 in Chicago, Illinois and were called the Morgan Athletic Club. Most recently, the Cardinals have moved into a brand new, state-of-the-art football stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Cardinals were in St. Louis from 1960 to 1988 and had been playing football at the Arizona State University stadium prior to the new Cardinals Stadium this year.
Basketball – The Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns LogoIn January of 1968, the NBA awarded expansion franchises to an ownership group from Phoenix and one from Milwaukee. This was the start of the Phoenix Suns. Jerry Colangelo, a former Chicago Bulls Executive, was hired to be General Manager.
The Suns moved to the state-of-the-art America West Arena in 1992 and traded for Charles Barkley from the Philadelphia 76ers. Barkley won his first, and only, MVP Award with the Suns in 1993.
All-Star point guard Steve Nash was acquired and the 2004-2005 season saw the Suns finishing with the best record in the NBA that year at 62-20. Although Amare Stoudemire was injured during the 2005-2006 season, the Suns made it into the Western Conference finals and were finally beaten by the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 on June 3, 206.
Expect the Suns to have an exciting year with the return of Amare coupled with the ongoing MVP play of Steve Nash.
Hockey – They Phoenix Coyotes
Founded in 1972, the team began playing hockey as the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association. They won three Avco World Trophies and made the finals five out of the league’s seven seasons before being one of four teams admitted to the NHL.
In 1996, the club moved to Phoenix and took on the name Coyotes. They posted six consecutive .500 or better seasons though they haven’t gone past the first round of the playoffs.
In 2003, they moved into Glendale Arena, changed their logo and uniforms, but failed to live up to fans expectations. In August of 2005, former hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky became the head coach and they signed Brett Hull, son of the great Bobby Hull from the Jets. However, for the last three years they have not made it into the playoffs.
Frank Lloyd Wright – Talieson West
Now a National Historic Landmark, Frank Lloyd Wright created Talieson West “out of the desert” starting in 1937. Along with his associates he creates a series of buildings that are striking in form and yet flow with the surrounding desert environment. The 600 acres of Talieson West became Wright’s winter home until his death in 1959. Apprentices of Wright attend the school of architecture and there are theatres for films and the performing arts.
- Address: 12621 Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard
- Phone: 480-860-2700 ext. 494
- Website: www.franklloydwright.org
Golfing
There are over 200 golf courses in and around Scottsdale. With abundant sunshine and a tremendous variety of courses to enjoy, Scottsdale is home to many world-class golfers such as Phil Mickelson who attended Arizona State on a golf scholarship.
The FBR Open at the TPC Scottsdale is one of the earliest golf events of each year, usually the last week of January. Originally called the Arizona Open and later the Phoenix Open, Close to 500,000 attend the 4 day event each year. In 2006 the FBR Open set a PGA Tour single day attendance record with over 168,000 fans in attendance on Saturday, February the 4th, as well as a tournament week attendance record of 536,367 fans. And yet, due to the course layout and ample parking, anyone can go see the event on any day of the tournament – you won’t be turned away! Be sure to check out the 16th hole, the most popular for spectators due to the “amphitheater” environment where the stands wrap around the hole.
The FBR Open is one of the top golf events of the year in terms of attendance and also in terms of the “fun factor”. Along with Scottsdale’s tremendous weather and the best golfers in the world (Phil Mickelson won the event in 2005 and is the hometown favorite each year), there are parties in the evenings and people make the event into a mini-vacation each year.
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