Melissa Shales, executive director of the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona, requested up to $69,000 in bed-tax funding on Oct. 21 to rent a temporary tent cover for Arena 7 at WestWorld for the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.

Shales said the show spans 11 competition days and supports about 2,000 horse exhibitors and some 150,000 spectators over the broader event window. She said the tent protects competition rings from rain and creates a safe, usable arena; Arena 6 and 7 at WestWorld are the only two primary arenas without a permanent cover on the portion of the site used by the show.

“We are requesting the $69,000 to accommodate the construction over this tent,” Shales said, describing the cover as a temporary solution until a permanent arena covering is constructed as part of WestWorld’s master plan.

Commissioners asked about lodging and economic impact. Shales said the show in past studies produced large local economic impact figures (she cited a 2005 study that calculated about $98 million) and that the organization places officials and judges in Scottsdale hotels and offers discounted rates for exhibitors; she said the association does not receive commissions or rebates from hotels. When asked, Shales said WestWorld provides approximately 275 on-site RV spaces during the event and that the application lists a total of about 21,000 room nights across the event run as calculated for the association’s funding materials.

After discussion, Commissioner Kisselberg moved to approve the $69,000 tent funding recommendation; Commissioner Miller seconded. The commission recorded the motion as approved by voice vote (ayes recorded without a roll-call tally). The motion was recorded as a recommendation to city council for a bed tax expenditure up to $69,000 to support an agreement with the Arabian Horse Association.

The commission briefly discussed the potential to seek sponsorships for future tent costs and noted WestWorld staff hope a permanent covering will be added under the site’s master plan; staff said they will continue to explore options to reduce future reliance on temporary tent funding.