Scottsdale / Phoenix, Arizona

Scottsdale and Phoenix is poised for a huge sporting year in 2008 with Super Bowl XLII and The FBR Open golf tournament coinciding on the same weekend in February. Major League Baseball's "Cactus League" Spring Training will attract another million visitors in March. But, let's not forget to kick-off the New Year when the Fiesta Bowl, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event, and Scottsdale golf resorts will welcome at least half-a-million visitors to beautiful, sunny Arizona in January 2008.

The Fiesta Bowl, one of college football's "Big 5" bowl games, will be played January 2nd at 6 P.M. local time at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. The 2007 Fiesta Bowl between the Boise State Broncos and Oklahoma Sooners is considered one of the greatest college football games ever played.

My wife actually got me tickets to the game as a Christmas present, and when I opened them I said, jokingly, "You couldn't get us tickets for the other big game?" (meaning the BCS Championship game between Ohio State and Florida also being played in Glendale) So, I reluctantly went with only a glimmer of hope that underdog Boise State would put in a good showing and at least make it an interesting game. As it turned out, it was easily the most thrilling sporting event I've ever witnessed. Our tickets placed us in the end-zone where all of the action took place: the hook-and-ladder as time expired to force overtime; the myriad of trick plays on 4th downs just to get into the end-zone; and, finally, the mother of all trick plays to win the game, the now infamous "Statue of Liberty" play on a gutsy 2-point conversion call that gave Boise State an unbelievable 43-42 victory over powerhouse Oklahoma. The upcoming Fiesta Bowl has a tough act to follow, but the stage has been set for a tradition of Fiesta Bowl magic you won't want to miss (no matter who's playing!).

An even bigger stage is set for car collectors at the Barrett-Jackson collector car event on January 15-20. Classic car enthusiasts from around the globe will descend upon Scottsdale for "The World's Greatest Collector Car Event." The Barrett-Jackson auction assembles the rarest classic cars and most intricately restored cars found at any one event. It has created so much excitement among car collectors that it will easily attract more fans than the Fiesta Bowl and Super Bowl combined. In 2007 over 250,000 car collectors attended the show and over 1,250 cars were auctioned, netting nearly $112 million in sales.

At the 2007 auction, a record bid $5,000,000 was placed for a one-of-a-kind 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C "Supersnake" which was Carroll Shelby's own personal vehicle. And who knows what record prices will be paid this coming year for that ultimate collector car? Officials predict that a different car will be crossing the stage every 3 minutes for 6 straight auction days. Classic car collectors will be getting their engines revved up for the Barrett-Jackson experience at WestWorld of Scottsdale from January 15-20, 2008.

Whether you're a football fan or car collector, Scottsdale golf must be on your agenda for your new year's visit. Barrett-Jackson attendees won't have to go very far for a world-class golf outing, with the Sanctuary Golf Course at Westworld just across the lot (pictured above). Acclaimed architect Randy Heckenkemper designed Sanctuary Golf Course in 1998 and it's quickly become one of the premier golf courses in Scottsdale. Framed by the McDowell Mountains and built among naturally protected habitats, Sanctuary Golf Course blends the simplicity of desert wildlife with the luxury of multi-tiered waterfalls and a challenging course layout.

Many of Scottsdale's best golf courses can be found within a 5-mile Radius of WestWorld, including:

Gainey Ranch Golf Club Arroyo / Lakes / Dunes, Grayhawk Golf Club Talon, Kierland Golf Course, and TPC of Scottsdale Desert / Stadium.

Scottsdale and Phoenix is going to be a happening place in 2008, starting with the Fiesta Bowl and Barrett-Jackson in January, then continuing with the Super Bowl and The FBR Open in February, and finally topping things off with MLB's "Cactus League" Spring Training in March. Along with the allure of Scottsdale's world-class resorts and golf courses, the Valley is already billed as one of the top vacation destinations in 2008.