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ETCA returns for the fourth time! The premier data center networking event and golf outing will be held on March 4th and 5th 2025 at the gorgeous Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, AZ. Delta Mission Critical and Cofluence jointly created this event with the goal to bring data center professionals together in a warm climate for the ultimate networking experience. The fourth annual outing is projected to have a sellout event of 144 people in attendance ranging from end users, colocation providers, channel partners, manufacturers, engineering firms, contractors, integrators and more. This two day event will provide the ultimate networking experience with a welcome reception on day 1, followed by a lunch, golf, and dinner experience on day 2.
Both days are located at the Whirlwind Golf Club. The resort is only 20 minutes away from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Once you arrive on Tuesday there will be no need to travel or head offsite for the official ETCA agenda. Sign up now before the event sells out!
4 pm - 6 pm - Welcome Reception at Prime Steak House at Gila River Resort at Wild Horse Pass
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, AZ 85226 - Floor 11
18 Hole Golf Scramble at Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass
5692 W North Loop Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226
10:00am - Registration and Networking Breakfast
12:00pm - Shotgun Start
5:00pm - Dinner Event and Awards
Attendees can now call Gila River reservations department at 520-796-4900 and mention “Escape the Cold Aisle 2025” to receive the group room rate. For online reservations; https://reservations.travelclick.com/75936?groupID=4385659
Guests will provide their own credit card number to hold their reservation at the time of booking. Any modifications or additional reservations after the cutoff date are subject to availability.
Located in the foothills of the Sierra Estrella Mountains, flanking desert canyons carved by ancient rivers, Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass is a truly unique Southwest golf experience sensitively designed to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Gila River Indian Community. Crafted by Gary Panks, both award winning courses at Whirlwind (Devil’s Claw and Cattail) are consistently ranked amongst the Best You Can Play in Arizona. Their creative designs reflect the Gila River landscape including cottonwood, mesquite, saguaro and palo verde trees with native grasses, rolling terrain and uncluttered views. The beauty of the natural terrain, 36 holes of stunning golf, creative culinary experiences at Sivlik Grill and more, make Whirlwind Golf Club a shining golf, dining and event gem within the Wild Horse Pass Destination.
It is very simple - Industry events are important however they are not conducive to building new relationships. Thought leadership style events we all go to have very rigid agendas and most of the networking is relegated to 5 minutes in between panels, buffet style lunches or happy hour bar settings. These are great to high five people we already know but no new relationships are being created in our opinion. Sponsors sit at tables in the lobby or at overpriced booths and regurgitate their value prop over and over and over to people rushing to the next panel session. If you have been in business for over a year, chances are you have attended this style of event. The challenge is how do you show a return on your dollar and time invested- stacks of business cards? LinkedIN connections? Impressive expense report with the names of attendees written on the top?
ETCA events are designed to bring people together to give them space and time to listen and develop mutually beneficial business relationships/friendships. You have the freedom to curate and customize your involvement or build ecosystems of colleagues simply by showing up. The return on your time invested is you now have a colleague you can turn to for advice, invite to a meeting or send them business- because now you know exactly what they do and what they are about.
ETCA is creating events people would attend even if it wasn’t for work.
Escape The Cold Aisle is an invitation to get out of the winter weather to come together. Bringing dynamic people together in a relaxed, not over structured event leads to positive outcomes.
Fact: People do business with people they like know and trust.
Fact: Chicago is freezing in February
Fact: A lot of business gets done on a golf course AND golf courses are closed in a lot of places in the winter.
Fact: Going to a warm place in February is good for your soul
Fact: Arizona has over 300 days of sunshine. Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland, NYC, Boston, St. Louis, Philadelphia- not so much…
Industry Thought Leadership events are valuable to further self-education and become enlightened. We love to go these. The Data Center and IT industries rely on solid partnerships and these partnerships are created from relationships that take time to build. ETCA events expedite that process by curating an environment that is conducive to forming mutually beneficial business connections.
