As 11 cities in the USA wait to hear which three will be chosen as new Major League Soccer expansion teams, one team in the running, Phoenix Rising FC, has provided fans with a tantalizing sneak peek at what its home stadium could look like.
In anticipation of the MLS announcement later this year, Phoenix Rising FC, which is currently entering its second season in the United Soccer League (USL), showed off renderings of the proposed 21,000-seat venue designed by architect firm Populous.
The stadium takes inspiration from European soccer stadia with a more intimate seating setup than is found in typical US-style football venues that positions fans close to the action in stands with a greater gradient. The overall effect is to enhance the energy and atmosphere during game day.
“The renderings really bring the stadium to life,” said Brett Johnson, co-chairman, Phoenix Rising FC. “We are excited for the fans to see the innovative, one-of-a-kind design with special attention paid to maximizing shade and airflow in the stadium to ensure player and fan comfort.”
The design also cleverly utilizes features to maximize shade and ventilation to help fans and players keep cool in the Arizona heat. The stadium itself is orientated to channel prevailing breezes, an asymmetrical bowl places the majority of seats in the shade, and a looming west stand is intended to mimic a mountain to cast a shadow over the east stand.
Elsewhere, a retractable shade curtain keeps seats out of the sun while the stadium’s entrances are shaped in a particular way to harness airflow, with flowing water falls cooling the wind as it blows into the stadium. Fans are also treated to cool zones and misting fans are located throughout the venue’s 360° concourse.
“We want Phoenix Rising fans to have a game-day experience that is second-to-none, so comfort and first-class amenities are top priorities,” said Scott Capstack, principal at Populous.
“From the four unique seating sections to diverse social spaces, this stadium will be the standard-bearer for soccer in the southwest.”
March 21, 2018
