Phoenix Rising unveils fiery new jerseys for ’20
Phoenix Rising Football Club has plenty to look forward to in its upcoming season: a slew of talented new player acquisitions; the 2020 Visit Tucson Sun Cup, featuring a cast of five Major League Soccer teams, and a nationally televised showdown against Western Conference rival Orange County SC on ESPN Deportes penciled in for June 19.
Now, add a trio of fiery jerseys to the mix.
Arizona’s highest-level professional soccer team introduced the three new jerseys, also known as kits, Thursday night at the Van Buren in Downtown Phoenix in front of fans and season ticket holders. They will be worn during the 2020 season.
“They’re all custom, and absolutely represent all of the fans that we play for each and every day,” Rising FC General Manager Bobby Dulle said.
The team will sport three different jersey colors throughout the season — red, white and black.
The latter two are particularly important.
Last season, fans surprised players and coaches by igniting the stadium one night with hundreds of flashing red lights, contrasting Rising FC’s black jerseys on the field.
“That was a really cool moment,” Dulle said. “(So), we took that moment and we wanted to incorporate that into our jerseys.”
The club’s black jerseys, this year, are outfitted with red lining.
“Wearing that black kit this year ... with those red streaks across it, represents our fans, and we know that all our fans always have our backs,” Dulle said.
Rising FC’s white kits serve a similar purpose, decorated with the names of every city in Arizona on the shoulder sleeves. The night’s biggest theme was simple: this club and its fans are a family.
All three jerseys also include logos from sponsors. Carvana is spread across the front, and a Mayo Clinic signature is perched on one of the shoulders.
Hungry for more
Club Governor Berke Bakay kicked off Thursday night’s festivities by reminding the crowd about unfinished business from last season — Rising FC compiled pro soccer’s longest consecutive match winning streak during the regular season, but lost in the Western Conference semifinals.
Then, coach Rick Schantz’s contract was extended through 2021.
Schantz has led Rising FC to a 36-13-5 regular season record since he took over as head coach
2018 season.
“We’re all about trophies,” Schantz said. “(And) we’ve collected quite a bit, (which) is something that I’m extremely proud of.”
The team currently is in the process of building a permanent place for all of the hard-earned hardware.
“When the visiting team comes into our building and has to walk by all of those trophies, it (will be) pretty intimidating,” Schantz said.
Within the last two weeks, Rising FC has added three notable players: veteran international forward Rufat Dadashov, 20-year-old Lagos Kunga from Atlanta United and former Scottish Youth National Team player Sam Stanton.
“It’s going to be a competition...I can’t wait for (everyone) to see what we can produce this season,” Schantz said. halfway
On the horizon
through the
In partnership with FC Tucson - Arizona’s USL (United Soccer League) League One team — Phoenix Rising FC will participate in the 2020 Visit Tucson Sun Cup, which is highlighted by nine matches over the span of seven days from Feb. 15-22.
The 2019 USL Championship regular season title winners will host three games at Casino Arizona Field against a trio of MLS squads — Columbus Crew, Sporting KC and Real Salt Lake, respectively.
A tournament winner will be determined by the number of total points each club receives. Three points are rewarded for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.
FC Dallas won last year’s event, then-named the Mobile Mini Sun Cup, in undefeated fashion.
Rising FC won just one match, and was outscored 9-3, but did manage to squeeze out a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders, a formidable MLS foe.
Training sessions for the team officially start on Sunday, more than a month before the first regular season game, scheduled for Saturday, March 7, which means preseason performances will be tested by an adjustment period, when players fight through fatigue and must challenge their conditioning.
Dulle is excited to get the ball rolling, and says the environment, culture and community has made all the difference.
“(We’re) just looking forward to getting back out on the field,” Dulle said. “It can’t come soon enough.”