City council votes to go forward with Phoenix Rising FC’s stadium plans near Sky Harbor

The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously 8-0 to move forward with Phoenix Rising FC’s new proposed stadium plans near Sky Harbor airport.

The proposal calls for the team to lease 435,600 square feet (around 10 acres) of Sky Harbor land to construct a temporary soccer stadium and associated facilities potentially including concession stands, a portable sportsbook and practice facilities.

The stadium would be located near 38th and Washington streets, on the northeast end of the airport. There is also a light rail stop that drops off at the intersection.

“We are grateful to the City of Phoenix leadership and their Department of Community and Economic Development. This move will allow us to immediately upgrade our game day fan experience, which has always been our top priority,” Phoenix Rising FC Governor Bill Kraus said in a release.

“Accessibility to the site is excellent and there will be opportunities to create partnerships with the small businesses at Phoenix Park ‘n Swap. We have so much respect for the hundreds of business owners who operate there and the thousands of customers they serve every week.”

Rising currently play at Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex at Wild Horse Pass, another temporary stadium in Chandler. The team moved to Chandler in 2021 after starting at the temporary Casino Arizona Field in Tempe, north of the Arizona State campus.

The new proposed deal will be a five-year lease that has five one-year options to extend the term.

The city council anticipates $1,502,820 in expected revenue for the five-year term.

“Our goal is to engage more and more children,” Rising owner Tim Riester told the city council on Wednesday.

“This move to Phoenix will not only bring our pro team closer to the center of Phoenix, it will bring our pro team closer to the youth in Phoenix.”