Barrett-Jackson, WM Phoenix Open & F1 Spring Training: Event Rental Guide

Arizona has more high-attendance events per square foot of metro than almost any other US market its size. Barrett-Jackson runs an entire neighborhood worth of car-show traffic for two weeks in late January. The WM Phoenix Open is the highest-attended PGA event in the world, with 700,000+ fans across the week. F1 weekend, Spring Training, NCAA Final Four (every few years), the Cactus League — every one of them spikes hotel prices, rideshare wait times, and rental-car demand by 2–4x.

This post covers the major events, when they happen, what they do to rental pricing and supply, and the smartest way to book a car around them — including why the in-app Map Explorer is the right tool for event-window booking.

The Five Events That Drive Rental Demand

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction (Late January)

The world's biggest collector-car auction. Held at WestWorld of Scottsdale. 9 days, 2,000+ vehicles crossing the block, 350,000+ attendees. Rental demand spikes most in the Scottsdale and North Phoenix corridors.

WM Phoenix Open / TPC Scottsdale (Early February)

The "rowdiest tournament in golf." 700,000+ fans across the week. The 16th hole alone has a 20,000-seat stadium. The event is centered at TPC Scottsdale but spills into hotels across Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

F1 Weekend (Late March or April, depending on schedule)

F1 visits Phoenix Raceway some seasons. When it does, the entire West Valley fills up. Avondale and Goodyear hotels sell out months in advance. Drivers, teams, and fans need cars.

Cactus League Spring Training (February–March)

15 MLB teams train in Arizona. Cubs, A's, Brewers, Royals, Reds in the East Valley (Mesa, Tempe). Dodgers, White Sox, D-Backs, Rockies, others in the West Valley. Six weeks of mid-week games, weekend rivalries, and a steady stream of out-of-town fans.

NASCAR Phoenix Raceway Race Weeks (March and November)

Two NASCAR Cup Series weekends per year at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale. Big crowds, big RV traffic, west-valley-specific demand spike.

What Events Do to Rental Prices

Arizona's event-week rental rates can run 50–150% above the off-season baseline. The math is straightforward: fixed supply (a host's fleet doesn't grow overnight) plus surge demand (out-of-town fans flying in) equals price escalation.

Specific patterns we see annually:

• Barrett-Jackson week (Scottsdale): Daily rates +60–100% over January average
• Phoenix Open week (Scottsdale + Paradise Valley): +40–80%, with spikes on the weekend
• F1 weekend (West Valley): +75–150% on luxury and SUV inventory; mid-tier vehicles less affected
• Spring Training (East and West Valley): +20–40%, distributed across 6 weeks rather than concentrated
• NASCAR weekends (West Valley): +30–60% with truck/SUV premium

The Booking Strategy: Map Explorer in the App

Here's the conversion path that wins for event-driven rentals.

Open the ItWhip app. Tap the Explore tab. The Map Explorer shows every available car in Arizona on a pan-and-zoom map.

1. Drop a pin on the venue. Westworld of Scottsdale for Barrett-Jackson. TPC Scottsdale 16th hole for the Phoenix Open. Phoenix Raceway in Avondale for F1 or NASCAR. Salt River Fields for spring training.
2. Set the date window for your event days. The map only shows cars available on those exact dates. No more clicking into a listing to discover it's already booked.
3. Filter by delivery range. Cars within 10 miles of your pin float to the top, sorted by distance and price.
4. Compare prices on the map itself. Each car shows its daily rate as a tag. Pinch-zoom to see the spread across neighborhoods.
5. Book in two taps. Choose the car, confirm dates, pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Why this works for events specifically: the Map Explorer answers the question "what's actually available near where I'm going, on the days I'm there, sorted by who'll deliver to me?" Lists can't answer that question without 20 minutes of scrolling and back-button clicks.

The Counter-Strategy: Book 60+ Days in Advance

Event-week rates are highest in the final 30 days before the event. The lowest rates are typically 60–90 days out. Booking early, even with cancellation buffer, beats waiting and hoping.

For Barrett-Jackson and Phoenix Open weeks (the two biggest), serious renters book by November of the prior year. The Cactus League is more forgiving — even mid-February bookings often find reasonable rates because demand is spread across 6 weeks.

Where to Stay (And Where to Pick Up)

For Barrett-Jackson

• Stay: North Scottsdale, Kierland, DC Ranch, or the Scottsdale resort corridor
• Pick up: Scottsdale or North Scottsdale hosts. Westworld pickup adds delivery fee but saves traffic time
• Skip: West Valley pickups — you'll spend 45 minutes each way crossing the metro

For the Phoenix Open

• Stay: Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, or Old Town Scottsdale (within Lyft range of TPC)
• Pick up: Old Town Scottsdale or Paradise Valley hosts. Many will deliver to your hotel
• Skip: Tempe and Mesa pickups — TPC traffic on tournament days makes the cross-valley drive painful

For F1 Weekend

• Stay: Avondale, Goodyear, or Litchfield Park (within shuttle range of Phoenix Raceway)
• Pick up: West Valley hosts. Avondale and Goodyear hosts fill up first
• Skip: East Valley pickups — Loop 202 east-to-west traffic on F1 days is brutal

For Spring Training

• East Valley games (Cubs, A's, Brewers): Stay in Mesa or Tempe, pick up nearby. See our Mesa guide
• West Valley games (Dodgers, D-Backs, White Sox): Stay in Glendale or Peoria, pick up nearby
• Doing both: Phoenix or central Scottsdale gives roughly equal access

For NASCAR Weekends

• Stay: Avondale or Goodyear (same as F1)
• Pick up: West Valley. Trucks and SUVs in particular demand surges

Vehicle-Type Strategies for Specific Events

Barrett-Jackson

If you're attending the auction itself, any car works. Parking at Westworld is plentiful. If you're attending after-parties around Scottsdale, a slightly nicer car helps with valet aesthetics, but it's not required.

Phoenix Open

Skip the convertible. Tournament parking can mean walking through dust and heat. SUVs and crossovers do best — easier to drop people at hotel entrances on rainy days (yes, Arizona rains), more room for golf attire/coolers/event gear.

F1 Weekend

Anything works getting to the track. The track itself has dedicated parking lots and shuttles. Some F1 fans prefer luxury or sport sedans for the vibes; not required.

Spring Training

A standard SUV or sedan handles all stadiums easily. Most stadiums have ample free or cheap parking. Convertibles are perfect in March if it's not raining.

NASCAR

Truck or SUV. The vibe is right and you'll likely be tailgating or carrying gear.

The "Off-Event" Bonus

If your trip dates surround an event but don't overlap it, you'll see major savings. A trip arriving the day after Phoenix Open ends and departing 5 days later catches dramatically better rates than a trip arriving the day before. The week immediately after Barrett-Jackson is the cheapest week in Scottsdale's calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I book for Barrett-Jackson or Phoenix Open?

90+ days out is ideal. 60 days is OK. Inside 30 days, expect peak surge pricing.

Can I cancel and rebook if I find a cheaper rate later?

Free cancellation windows on ItWhip vary by listing — most are 24 hours before pickup, some are 48 or 72 hours. Read the cancellation policy on each listing. If the cancellation window allows, yes, you can rebook at a better rate later. Be aware that as event week approaches, prices typically rise, not fall.

Are luxury cars worth booking for Phoenix Open?

The Phoenix Open is informal enough that luxury rentals are not required. Most attendees rent regular cars and walk/Lyft to the parking shuttle. If you're hosting clients or attending high-end after-parties, luxury becomes a trip-experience choice rather than a logistical one.

What about RV rentals for NASCAR or F1?

The Phoenix Raceway infield permits RVs and they sell out fast. ItWhip lists some RVs but the dedicated RV rental market is more efficient for true raceway tailgating — for non-camping fans, a regular SUV is easier.

Will I hit traffic going to/from the events?

Yes. Plan for it. Phoenix Open weekend afternoons add 30+ minutes to most cross-valley drives. F1 weekend congests Loop 303 and I-10 west severely. Spring Training adds local congestion near each stadium but the metro overall is fine.

Is there a way to know which week of February has events vs not?

Arizona's "event peak" is typically Jan 21 – Feb 14. Outside that window — even a few days before or after — rates ease significantly. If your trip dates are flexible, check rates a week before and a week after your initial plan.

The Bottom Line

Arizona's events are part of what makes Phoenix and Scottsdale interesting destinations — and part of what makes rental pricing dynamic. Book early, use the in-app Map Explorer to find cars near your specific venue, and consider event-adjacent dates if your schedule is flexible. Every event has a tactic that beats walking into it cold.