Most of us probably remember the sh*tshow that was the 2024 WM Open, but since so much has happened since then and memories are short…many tickets weren’t checked, people were severely over-served alcohol, there were fights, there was vomit, and there was precious little police presence compared to the number of revelers that were there. It was a stain on the reputation of the event, and hopefully a catalyst for some degree of change (you can read our coverage here).
Preparations are now underway for the 2025 iteration of this event, and we have to wonder…what will change?
According to the organizers they are looking to “elevate the fan experience” with “an additional entrance, all-digital admission ticketing platforms, improved walking paths and upgraded general admission areas”.
This is very likely to alleviate the issues related to ticket-checking and fewer people crashing the gates without tickets, so from a logistics perspective this is helpful. But as we all know, that was only one of the profound issues with this year’s event.
They are saying that they want to make the event “better, not bigger”, and that is also preferred, but we also have to wonder how much these changes will move the needle in that regard. The Bird’s Nest headliners of Luke Bryan and Jelly Roll are A-list acts, but will the organizers be focused on toning down the debauchery of the event which has become an increasingly unfortunate hallmark of the event?
The fact that law enforcement from around the Valley had to be rustled up and brought to the event, and even then it was not enough to keep things in check properly, is indicative of a larger need…the need for a cultural overhaul. The events of this year were indicative that perhaps the pendulum swung too far towards the party side and away from the golf side, and that it has potentially damaged from the brand in a way that makes it much less of a desirable event for professionals to participate in.
While logistical changes are welcome and will undoubtedly be helpful to the overall experience, it is the elephant in the room that remains unaddressed that perhaps needs to be addressed more than anything else.