Brad Cesmat
Phoenix Rising Football Club, entering its second season in the United Soccer League (USL), released today the first glimpse of the proposed Major League Soccer (MLS) stadium designs, in anticipation of the announcement of the MLS expansion teams.
“The renderings really bring the stadium to life,” said Brett Johnson, co-chairman for Phoenix Rising FC. “We are excited for the fans to see the innovative, one-of-a-kind design with special attention paid to maximizing shade and airflow in the stadium to ensure player and fan comfort.”
The asymmetrical design places the majority of seats on the west side and provides ample shade. Stadium entrances are strategically shaped to maximize airflow, featuring water walls to cool patrons as they enter. Expansive, breathable canopies will cover the bowl, concourse and area surrounding the stadium to maximize player and fan comfort while amplifying the energy and excitement within the stadium.
“We want Phoenix Rising fans to have a game day experience that is second-to-none, so comfort and first-class amenities are top priorities,” said Scott Capstack, principal at Populous. “From the four unique seating sections to diverse social spaces, this stadium will be the standard-bearer for soccer in the southwest.”
“The proposed design will be environmentally and culturally relevant to Arizona,” said Krista Shepherd principal for Gould Evans. “We wanted to create a stadium that Phoenicians will be proud of and will offer our community a year-round state-of-the-art entertainment destination.”
Phoenix is one of 11 cities competing for three MLS expansion slots, which are scheduled to be announced in 2018.
