Cost-cutting Phoenix FC changes home
Phoenix FC is on the best run of its inaugural professional season, losing just twice in the past nine matches. But that is being overshadowed by the club’s recent cost-cutting moves off the field.
Fans have become more disgruntled with every misstep the club takes. The biggest blow came this week when Phoenix FC announced its latest change. The club will no longer play its home matches at Arizona State’s Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. It will now play at Field 1 of Reach 11 Sports Complex in north Phoenix for the last three matches of the season, all designated as home games, starting with tonight’s contest against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Because of early high operational costs that far exceeded its budget during its first USL PRO season, Phoenix FC has been eliminating as many current expenses as possible through the last month.
“The stadium at ASU was first class,” coach David Robertson said. “And as we traveled around the league, it’s probably in the top 3. But it came at a huge cost. For the first season, it was a step too far. We’ve moved to Reach11for the final three games. To be honest, it’s very similar to some of the places we’ve played at in the league.”
Phoenix FC (5-11-7) has gone through a tumultuous first season on and off the field. The team went through a two-month winless streak and likely will miss the postseason. Though with recent improved play, including a 4-0 win last weekend, it now sits 10th in the 13-team league standings. Off the field, there was player discontent, front-office changes and decisions that have continually shrunk the size and seating capacity of its home stadium.
Its new home field has a concrete seating area — with no back support — that can seat just a few hundred. USL PRO allowed Phoenix FC to make the change even though the club is now going to play in a smaller stadium site with less amenities for teams and fans.
“We have sanctioned the club’s request to relocate its final regularseason games to the Reach 11 stadium field,” USL President Tim Holt said in a statement he sent to azcentral sports. “This allows for a topquality field/facility to host the remaining games. As part of its postseason review, the club will need to analyze the available stadium options for 2014 with league management.”
Robertson said Phoenix FC’s ownership group is currently looking at options, including no ASU.
Rocky Harris, ASU senior associate athletic director of external relations, said that leasing the stadium to Phoenix FC is still open, for now.
“We originally leased Sun Devil Soccer Stadium to Phoenix FC to bring soccer fans to the city of Tempe and to support a growing sport,” Harris said in a statement he sent to azcentral sports. “For the final three home matches of the season, Phoenix FC has decided to move to an alternative location to save on matchday expenses. We have the flexibility to continue to lease our soccer stadium to Phoenix FC or to end the relationship. A decision hasn’t been made at this time.”