Rising FC prepares for 1st playoff match on Saturday

During their Happy Hour event at Thirsty Lion in Tempe Marketplace on Thursday, the excitement radiating through the building was palpable.

As Phoenix Rising FC prepares for its first-ever playoff match on Saturday, the club held a special event at the venue to promote its new “Phoenix Rising Lager” brewed by Four Peaks Brewing Company.

It’s just another example of how the organization has gone from rags to riches this season.

Rising FC, in its fourth season playing in the United Soccer League, finished 101-1 in its final 12 games to secure a playoff match with the Swope Park Rangers in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday.

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the club, which rebranded itself under new ownership and moved to a new stadium in 2017. From 2014-16, the team (then called Arizona United SC) compiled a 29-43-14 record, not once qualifying for playoff position.

So what changed this season? In a sense, the club has risen — and so have the fans.

In August 2016, team founder Kyle Eng sold his majority share to a new ownership group led by Berke Bakay, who is the President and CEO of Kona Grill. A few months later, they rebranded the club as Phoenix Rising FC in anticipation of the 2017 season.

“It was a new day for soccer in state of Arizona,” Rising COO Bobby Dulle said. “The first thing we wanted to do was show everyone that this is something new and rebrand the organization. It was a really fun process, and the Rising name was a hit for everyone. It showed there was a new group on the horizon.”

For Phoenix’s first game of the season on March 25, the club welcomed a thenrecord crowd of 6,890 fans at the new Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, a “popup” stadium built on the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community that borders Scottsdale and Tempe and sits at the northwest corner of the 101 and 202 freeways.

On April 12, Phoenix signed former international star and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba. The Ivory Coast native, who also purchased an ownership stake in the club, debuted on April 23 before a record crowd of 7,126.

Chickie Brewer of Gilbert was one of the fans who came to check out the Rising upon Drogba’s arrival. After that, she couldn’t stay away. “My husband brought me to a game and I fell in love with the Rising,” Brewer, who attended Thursday’s event. “I think it was the players and the atmosphere.”

But while interest in the club was growing, the results were not immediately there.

Between head coaches Frank Yallop and Rick Schantz, the Rising compiled an unimpressive 4-5-0 record in its first nine games. That’s when ownership decided to make another big splash to sign international coach Patrice Carteron, who finished the season 13-3-7 to secure a playoff berth.

With the arrival of Drogba and Carteron, the team streaked through the summer months in front of crowds routinely ranging from 5,500-6,500 in temperatures that reached into triple digits.

Now, as they prepare for the biggest game in franchise history, the Rising can’t help but marvel at what they’ve built in the last year — from a new stadium to various new sponsorships.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 5:30 Arizona time and can be viewed locally on Yurview Arizona (Cox channels 4 and 1004). Fans can also attend the team’s official watch party at the Thirsty Lion in Tempe Marketplace.