![]() That's because it is a 'dry heat', and has none of the stifling humidity of Houston or Orlando, and that shaded areas in a stadium, or at night matches, would actually provide a much more comfortable fan experience than at many current MLS venues.īakay says bringing MLS to Phoenix is about what the club can do for the local community and enhance the brand of the city. One of the biggest negatives against Phoenix's bid is the heat of the Sonoran Desert, but the club maintain this is essentially a non-issue. I feel like we have all the right ingredients and we are working towards making that dream a reality." We have the best location available in the Phoenix market that is shovel-ready to go. "A soccer-specific stadium is a must for MLS. "Our attendance figures are close to 400 percent higher from a year ago, we have brought in world stars such as Didier Drogba and Shaun Wright-Phillips, and it is a treat for our fans to be able to really enjoy them. "Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States and out of the 12 bidding cities it has one of the largest, if not the largest, media market, which is very important for what it can do for the other teams because obviously it brings the value of the media contract up. ![]() You need the right ingredients," he says. "If you look at what gets you there, it is really about having the right market. I am not sure of the capacity yet - we are still professionally assessing the requirements - but I would think it would be around 23 000."īakay says the stadium is a crucial part of their future, but they have a number of other factors in their favour. "We will build a permanent stadium on this site, subject to our MLS bid, and once we get the confirmation that we are in the league, we will start building it. "I don't know where else you could achieve that when you think about the permitting and everything else that goes into it, so it shows we have great support. "A year ago none of this was here, including our stadium which was built from the ground-up in 52 days," Bakay says. "I don't want to sound arrogant I'm very humbled by the whole experience and I cannot talk to the timing of it, but it will happen."īakay has been leading the charge to MLS since his ownership group acquired the Arizona United club, re-branded it Phoenix Rising in 2016, and found a new home in Tempe within the metropolitan boundaries of the city.Ī 'pop-up' stadium was quickly erected and the club has been an instant hit with locals, averaging over 99 percent capacity at its 6 200-seater temporary home in 2017.īakay says they are only starting to scratch the surface of the team's potential though, and admits that personalities and razzmatazz aside, there have to be compelling reasons why MLS will invite Phoenix Rising to join the league. I can't imagine Major League Soccer without having one of the largest cities in the United States being part of that," Bakay tells KweséESPN in Phoenix. "I think it is just a matter of when and not if. Under the leadership of Club Governor Berke Bakay, and with a diverse ownership group that includes former Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba, acclaimed American DJ, record producer, rapper and singer Diplo, and Pete Wentz from rock band Fall Out Boy, there is real optimism that in the coming years the club will be competing in the top league. The Phoenix outfit, a little more than a year old, is one of 12 teams vying for a place in the next MLS expansion, with the first two of those likely to be named in mid-December for entrance in 2020, and the next two some time in 2018 (to enter the league in 2021). Under the baking Arizona sun, the players of United Soccer League (USL) side Phoenix Rising sweat through training, pushing their limits to see how far they can go in this year's USL play-offs, starting this weekend against Swope Park Rangers.ĭespite their best efforts in the league, the nature of the closed division means the players know they cannot win promotion to Major League Soccer (MLS), no matter how they fare in Kansas on Saturday.īut in the air-conditioned boardroom of the club's training complex there is more hard - albeit less sweaty - work being done to try and turn their top-flight dreams into a reality. Phoenix Rising high in push for MLS place You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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