SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Rising from the desert near the Loop 202 and 101 interchange in Scottsdale is a new soccer-specific stadium. It will be the new home of Phoenix Rising FC.
“Now we're not sharing the facility with any other teams. It's our facility. We can be out here as much as we like,” said Bobby Dulle, the chief operating officer for Phoenix Rising FC.
In past seasons, the team formerly known as Arizona United SC, used to play in spring training baseball stadiums in Peoria and Scottsdale, essentially, squeezing a rectangle field into a baseball diamond. Fans were generally seated on only one side of the field.
Built in only two months and privately funded, the Phoenix Rising FC stadium can seat 6,000 fans and could expand to 10,000 if the demand dictates it during the season. Fans will now be surrounding all four sides of the field.
By all appearances, there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. All seats have a solid view of the field. There are air-conditioned luxury suites with a nice view.
The team also promises the product on the field will be just as nice.
Dulle says head coach and president of soccer operations Frank Yallop has put together a competitive squad with a mix of experienced and young talent.
“We've acquired players from Mexico that have played for national teams, like Omar Bravo. We've acquired players from England, who have played for the national team, such as Sean Wright-Philips,” said Dulle.
Omar Bravo has played in MX Liga and Major League Soccer. He scored two goals for Mexico in the 2006 World Cup.
Shaun Wright-Phillips has played in the English Premier League and Major League Soccer. He played for England during the 2010 World Cup.
Phoenix Rising FC is thinking big and long-term.
They currently play in the United Soccer League, which is considered a second-tier league. The team is one of 11 franchises vying for expansion into Major League Soccer. If that happens, Dulle says they will build a new 25,000 seat climate-controlled stadium on the same property.
The season opener is Saturday night against Toronto FC II. The game starts at 7:30 p.m.. Gates open at 5 p.m. and fans are encouraged to come early to check out the new stadium just north of the 202 off McClintock Drive in Scottsdale.