Construction is underway on a major stormwater overhaul at WestWorld of Scottsdale, designed to improve drainage and flood protection during significant rain events. The project, which broke ground in July, targets a chronic flooding problem that has plagued the 386-acre equestrian and event campus for years.
According to the City of Scottsdale
, the new system will boost stormwater capacity and improve flood protection for WestWorld and the surrounding area. The city says heavy construction activity on the WestWorld Bahia Drive storm drain system formally kicked off in July, marking the start of a project whose design began in October 2025.
At the center of the work is a massive 96-inch storm drain pipe that will run from 94th Street and Bahia Drive southeast to connect with the Reata Wash channel, according to City of Scottsdale records. The new pipe replaces an undersized drainage system that previously struggled to handle both onsite and offsite runoff, with Reata Wash serving as a key regional drainage corridor for North Scottsdale.
A Below-Budget Contract and a Low-Cost State Loan
The Scottsdale City Council awarded the construction contract to Blucor Contracting, Inc. for $3.36 million in June, coming in nearly 50% below the $6.69 million estimate prepared by engineering firm Kimley-Horn & Associates. That gap between the bid and the engineer's projection gave the city some financial breathing room on a project that's being financed largely through state assistance.
Per the Office of Mayor Lisa Borowsky, the project is funded through a $10.4 million low-cost loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona's Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which includes $1 million in forgivable principal. WIFA approved the loan, and the City Council authorized execution and delivery of a WIFA loan agreement, with funding available.
Why WestWorld's Drainage Matters to the Regional Economy
The push to flood-proof WestWorld isn't just about keeping arenas dry — it's about protecting a genuine economic engine. An Arizona State University Seidman Research Institute study, cited by the Daily Independent, found that WestWorld contributed $163.6 million to Arizona's gross domestic product and supported 1,813 jobs statewide during fiscal year 2023-24. The venue hosted 80 events in fiscal year 2024-25.
WestWorld features 300,000 square feet of climate-controlled exhibit space and 10 equestrian arenas spread across the site, and it hosts signature draws like the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction and the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, according to WestWorld of Scottsdale. WestWorld's beginnings date to 1982; Horseman's Park opened in 1986, long before the venue reached its current scale as a year-round events hub.
A Fraction of a Much Larger Need
The Bahia Drive work addresses just one piece of a far bigger drainage puzzle. A 2023 City of Scottsdale staff assessment estimated that comprehensive, multi-phase drainage and wash-lining improvements across WestWorld's equestrian arenas, barns, and administration areas could total between $15 million and $20 million.
The City Council approved a contract to develop a WestWorld Master Plan Update, with drainage and site amenities among the topics, as reported by the Daily Independent. Funding for that study came directly from WestWorld event fees, reflecting how the venue's own revenue has helped drive its long-term planning.
Nearby, the city's voter-funded Reata Sports Complex, which opened in 2024, serves sports users and provides overflow event parking for major WestWorld shows, Hoodline previously reported. The five-field complex adds sports facilities and event parking near WestWorld.
City officials have not detailed when or how the remaining $15 million to $20 million in WestWorld-wide drainage upgrades might be funded, leaving that larger question open as construction on the Bahia Drive segment continues.
