The iconic 16th hole stadium at TPC Scottsdale's WM Phoenix Open takes approximately 122 days to build and about two months to dismantle. Known as 'The Coliseum,' this temporary structure accommodates roughly 20,000 fans and 300 skyboxes during tournament week.

Construction for the 2025 event began on October 3rd, 2024, well ahead of the February 6th tournament start date. After the event concludes, the stadium remains in place for about a week before the two-month dismantling process begins.

The stadium is managed through a collaboration between:

• The Thunderbirds (charitable organization operating the tournament)
• Bureau of Reclamation
• City of Scottsdale
• TPC Scottsdale

Three Thunderbirds members oversee the 16th hole, including a chairman, assistant, and second assistant. Each second assistant has two years to develop improvements for the hole.

For the remainder of the year (April to November), golfers play the 160-yard par 3 without the stadium setup. The hole has witnessed over 10 holes-in-one during tournament play, including Tiger Woods' memorable ace in 1997, which helped establish the hole's reputation and led to the implementation of the stadium concept.

The 2025 event will feature several improvements, including:

• Relocated site entrance near the 18th tee
• Expanded walkways throughout the course
• New fully digital ticketing system

These changes aim to enhance crowd management and overall tournament experience following issues encountered in 2024.

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