Phoenix Rising announces new home at Wild Horse Pass

Kyle Knox

Gila River Indian News

The Phoenix Rising Football Club has found a new home in the Gila River Indian Community.

On Thursday, Dec. 10, Phoenix Rising announced a permanent stadium and training facilities at Wild Horse Pass.  

The announcement was held at Gila River Hotels & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass.

Mark Grado, Rawhide and Motorsports Park, General Manager, began the announcement along with Berke Bekay, Phoenix Rising Football Club, Club Governor, and Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, which was followed by a video rendering of the future stadium and facilities. 

The new stadium will be completed around May 1, 2021, before starting the 2021 United Soccer League’s 2021 Championship season. The stadium will provide infrastructure lacking from the previous stadium, including an increased seating capacity of 35 percent, enhanced video board, paved parking with better entry and exits, and permanent bathrooms, among other features.

“On behalf of myself, our elected leadership, Lt. Gov. Robert Stone, and our 17-member Community Council, we are honored to be your partner, to provide a home to an amazing, successful franchise, we welcome you to the GRIC family, and we look forward to helping hoist another championship for Phoenix Rising and the Gila River Indian Community,” said Gov. Lewis. 

Phoenix Rising FC Club Governor Bekay thanked Gov. Lewis, Community Council, and the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority Board partnership upon taking the stage. 

“I’m very excited, I’m excited for our partnership, and I’m excited for getting here and calling Gila River our home. And hopefully, this is only the first stage in the beginning of where we are going from here,” said Bekay.

Bekay cited that before COVID-19, Phoenix Rising had sold out 23 consecutive games that highlighted the need for a bigger stadium. 

Phoenix Rising is relocating from the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex at the Casino Arizona Field located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.