Phoenix FC, a franchise member of the USL PRO professional soccer league, has signed an agreement to play its home games at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium on the Arizona State campus for its 2013 inaugural season.
As part of the deal, Phoenix FC will invest to expand seating capacity by more than 4,000 additional seats, taking the total capacity to more than 5,000 seats. Phoenix FC has already purchased the additional seating, with construction scheduled to begin in January and completed before the team opens its season in April.
“The entire Phoenix area has an incredible fan base for soccer, and we have been working hard to find the perfect location to launch a professional soccer team that allows enthusiasts to easily be a part of the experience," said Phoenix FC chairman Eric Cornwell. "Sun Devil Soccer Stadium in Tempe is beyond ideal. It’s centrally located, adjacent to the freeways and light rail, and it’s right in the middle of a fantastic area for restaurants and entertainment.
Cornwell credited team president Tim Thomas and ASU athletic director Steve Patterson for their work in making the partnership happen.
Patterson said the partnership will be a boon to ASU's women's soccer program, which has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in three of the past four years.
"As soccer grows in the state, a partnership with Phoenix FC is a natural way to maintain that momentum," Patterson said. "We share the same goals of competing for championships and cultivating a fan base with youth and adult soccer fans across the state, and we can work together to reach our goals.”
The team will play fifteen home games between April and September of 2013, joining the USL PRO’s Los Angeles Blues as the two premiere western franchises. The club also will play exhibition matches against MLS clubs and International teams and compete in the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in May of 2013.
Former Portuguese professional player and coach Rui Filipe Bento will serve as general manager of the team, with former Scottish star David Robertson as head coach. Six professional players from Scotland, Brazil and the U.S. have been signed to the team, and the roster will be completed in January. The roster includes former Desert Vista High School star Reid Schmitt, who spent last season with FC Tucson of the Professional Development League.
Season tickets deposits of $50 are now available. For more information, visit the team's website at www.PhoenixFC.com.
