Phoenix Rising FC looks to ‘own the asterisk’ in 2020 schedule reveal

Phoenix Rising FC announced its 2020 schedule on Thursday, starting with the team’s home opener against LA Galaxy II on Saturday, July 11.

The game is set for 7 p.m. and will be televised nationally on ESPN Deportes and locally on CW61. You can also listen live on the Arizona Sports app and on ArizonaSports.com.

The match will take place at the home of Rising FC, Casino Arizona Field.

Fans will not be in attendance, but are invited to a drive-thru event on July 9 between 4 and 7:30 p.m. During this event, fans can drop off signs that will be placed in the stadium during the game, and in exchange, fans will be given a team poster. More information about that event can be found here.

Following the team’s season opener, the Rising will hit the road to take on Orange County SC on July 16 and 25 before returning home for an Aug. 1 matchup with El Paso Locomotive FC. The July 16 meeting with Orange County can be viewed on ESPN2.

“Now we can kind of get a little bit back into a routine from pre-scout for the players and coaches and putting plans together for an opponent and guys have something to focus on,” Rising GM Bobby Dulle said on the UpRising Podcast. “It’s been tough. It has been great to get back and have training. But now that we have a set date, we have a set opponent, we know what’s out in front of us. I think the guys are excited for sure.”

2020 will be a season unlike any other.

This year, we want to own the asterisk.#OwnThe* | #CountdownToKickoff presented by @equalityhealth pic.twitter.com/aPE1jgvs6C

— Phoenix Rising FC | Rising Together But Separate (@PHXRisingFC) July 2, 2020

Phoenix will then face off against New Mexico United on Aug. 8, followed by LA Galaxy II on Aug. 12. Both games are slated to be road games for the Rising.

Back in the Valley, the Rising will meet up with San Diego Loyal SC on Aug. 15 before a three-game road trip that includes matches against Las Vegas Lights FC (Aug. 12 and Sept. 5) and Reno 1868 FC (Aug. 29).

For most of the month of September, however, the Rising are back in Phoenix, squaring off against Las Vegas Lights FC (Sept. 11), San Diego Loyal SC (Sept. 19) and Orange County SC (Sept. 26) in a three-game home stand.

The Rising finish up their 2020 slate with a final road game against San Diego Loyal SC on Sept. 30 before the team’s home finale to close out the season on Oct. 3 against LA Galaxy II.

The announcement comes as sports were stopped in their tracks in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The USL had already allowed teams to return to practices in May.

USL teams will play in regional groups upon the season’s resumption. Phoenix Rising FC will be grouped in Group B with LA Galaxy II, Las Vegas Lights FC, Orange County SC and San Diego Loyal SC.

“We’re excited. It’s been a lot of work,” Dulle said. “The USL has done a fantastic job and the other teams working together to get to this point — from how we’ve realigned to the return-to-play protocol.”

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