Phoenix Rising FC, Arizona’s highest-level professional soccer team, announced today the relocation of its stadium and professional training facilities from south Scottsdale to Wild Horse Pass within the Gila River Indian Community. The move will immediately increase seating capacity at the stadium, improve VIP luxury suites, speed entry and exit from the stadium complex and add additional training fields.
“Since the launch of Phoenix Rising FC in 2016, fan support has been consistently increasing,” said Phoenix Rising FC Governor Berke Bakay. “Prior to COVID-19, twenty-three consecutive matches at Casino Arizona Field were sold out due to our amazing supporters. This move will immediately increase stadium seating by more than 35% and also provide room for future expansion.”
In addition to increased seating, the stadium will include an enhanced video board, a larger press box, improved sound and a new family-friendly general admission section opposite the lively supporters’ area anchored by two of USL’s top fan groups – Los Bandidos and Red Fury. Expansion plans include a permanent ticket office, new locker rooms and an on-site administrative office.
“The Gila River Indian Community has a history of successful partnerships with many professional and collegiate sports teams in the Valley,” said Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Lewis. “We are very much looking forward to having Phoenix Rising be the first to play its games within our community.”
The Gila River Indian Community and Wild Horse Pass Development Authority have been hard at work preparing the new stadium and training site for Phoenix Rising FC. Located just south of Gila River Hotels & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass near the junction of the I-10 and 202 south freeways, the new stadium complex will feature multiple paved roads for quick entry and exit, a paved VIP parking lot and permanent bathrooms for fans.
The new training facility and stadium will be completed before the start of the 2021 USL Championship season, which is projected to begin on or around May 1. USL is delaying the start of the 2021 season to give clubs the best chance to play a full season schedule in front of fans.
Prior to selecting Wild Horse Pass for its stadium and training facility expansion, Phoenix Rising spent the past four years discussing possible stadium locations with many local governments including Maricopa County, Mesa, Phoenix, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Scottsdale and Tempe.
“We appreciate everyone from these governments who spent time exploring stadium location options with us,” said Bakay. “We will be forever grateful to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community families comprising the Solanna Group for embracing us in 2016 and providing a home on their land for our initial success. We intend to continue working with them well into the future, as their development plans include construction of a multi-purpose stadium and more sports fields.”
Phoenix Rising FC is the highest-level professional soccer franchise in Arizona history. Established in 2016, the club has won the 2020 and 2018 Western Conference Titles as well as the USL Championship’s 2019 Regular Season Title. Rising holds the record for the longest win streak in American professional soccer history (20 matches). It is owned by legendary Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, Advantage Sports Union CEO, Alex Zheng, club governor Berke Bakay and an impressive collection of business leaders and international celebrities.
The Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHPDA), an enterprise of the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), is responsible for the development and management of Wild Horse Pass, including a 3,300-acre master planned commercial development with retail, restaurants, resort and recreation, indoor/outdoor entertainment and office. Currently, the Wild Horse Pass destination includes Gila River Hotels & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass, the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, Whirlwind Golf Club, Aji Spa, Rawhide Western Town & Event Center, Phoenix Premium Outlets, KOLI Equestrian Center, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and Bondurant High Performance Driving School.
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