Rising FC opener slated for ESPN2
Phoenix Rising FC’s season opener at its new Wild Horse Pass stadium will be televised by ESPN2, along with its first road game against the team it was supposed to meet in the 2020 USL Championship league’s title game.
The club is nearing the formal opening of its new 10,000-seat stadium, part of the team facility that has been built on the Gila River Indian Community off Interstate 10.
It’s season opener at the stadium will be April 30 at 7 p.m. against division rival San Diego Loyal SC on ESPN2.
Its first road game is May 15 at the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Florida, at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
The Rowdies are the defending Eastern Conference champions and were set to face Phoenix, the Western Conference champs, last fall in the league’s 2020 championship game.
However, the game was canceled after positive COVID-19 tests within the Rowdies’ organization.
Phoenix has a few preseason games left on its schedule before the regular season, which is beginning later than usual because of the pandemic.
The club will look for its first preseason win in Tucson Saturday to face MLS club Colorado Rapids.
Afterwards, they return to play the remainder of their preseason games at home: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on April 17 and New Mexico United on April 24 — both USL Championship teams —and finish off with FC Tucson of USL League One on April 25.
Phoenix’s scheduled April 3 game against Seattle Sounders was cancelled after a possible COVID-19 case on Rising FC, but the club later announced a test revealed a false positive.
The team was able to play its following game against Real Salt Lake in Tucson.
A goal in the 26th minute from Real Salt Lake was the difference as they beat the Rising 1-0.
“We kind of feel asleep on a throwin,” coach Rick Schantz said.
“Once we gave up the goal, the guys got a little bit shy. They kind of packed it in and did not want to get scored on.”
Personnel update
Rising this week announced a new addition to the team, signing local product Ryan Flood, 22. He has been with the team on trial since the start of preseason. The wingback was born in Scottsdale and played in various youth clubs across the Valley.
He attended Corona del Sol High School in Tempe and kept developing his talents, playing overseas in Brazil and Japan in pursuit of a pro career.
He returned to Arizona, where he played for FC Arizona of National Premier Soccer League, where he was coleading scorer. Rising FC lists him as a
left-back.
Flood is no stranger to the club, having played against them 2018 U.S. Open Cup. He tried out multiple times with the team.
“Ryan Flood is one of the best stories you can find,” Schantz said in a press release. “He has tried out for Phoenix Rising three times now. The first two, he returned to FC Arizona and continued to work hard under Dave Rogers. He has been rewarded because of his no-quit attitude and strong desire to be a pro. His journey is just beginning. He is a big, strong leftsided player who gives us depth. He has amazing range as a passer.”