Scottsdale rethinks WestWorld after millions in losses
WestWorld Is More Than Horse Shows — But the Books Need Work
If you've ever driven past WestWorld on Pima Road and wondered what goes on inside that sprawling 386-acre complex beyond Barrett-Jackson weekend and the Arabian Horse Show, you're not alone. Turns out, Scottsdale city leaders are asking the same question — and the answers in a new nearly 180-page city council report are raising some eyebrows.
The report confirms what budget-watchers have suspected for a while: WestWorld has been bleeding money. The facility has racked up roughly $51 million in cumulative operational expenses over several years, losing $4.2 million in one recent fiscal year alone and $4.6 million the year before that. Those shortfalls get quietly absorbed by Scottsdale's general fund every year.
The city points to a few culprits: high staff turnover, inconsistent operating procedures, neighbor complaints about noise and traffic, and a branding problem that has made it tough to attract a wider variety of events and vendors. Many people hear "WestWorld" and picture cowboy hats and show horses — which is great, but the facility hosts roughly 80 events a year covering everything from car auctions to bike week.
Here's the thing though: the numbers aren't entirely gloomy. An Arizona State University study found WestWorld pumped $164 million into Arizona's economy in fiscal year 2023-24, supported 1,813 jobs statewide, and generated $4.8 million in direct state and local tax revenues. The facility welcomes close to one million visitors annually. That's not nothing.
City council members are largely united in wanting to see WestWorld succeed. The strategic plan now underway is expected to address infrastructure upgrades, rate structures, staffing stability, and marketing to showcase the venue's full potential. A new assistant general manager position is also being filled.
For Valley residents, WestWorld remains one of Scottsdale's crown jewels — it just needs some financial polish to shine as brightly as it should.
Sources: AZ Family | Scottsdale.org | Daily Independent | Signals AZ | East Valley Tribune | Scottsdale City