March Expansion update for 2018

[MadCardDisease]

https://www.thebluetestament.com/20...amento-austin-columbus-plus-a-timeline-update

Phoenix Rising FC
The team that is most making the case to be put back into contention is Phoenix Rising (USL). Since our last update they have gone out and added a new investor. Alex Zheng, the Chairman of Advantage Sports Union Ltd, who also own 80 percent of French Ligue 1 club OGC Nice.

“We were fortunate and flattered to meet with a number of impressive investors who have interest in Phoenix Rising FC, but Alex Zheng was exceptional,” Berke Bakay, governor of Phoenix Rising FC said in a release. “His amazing knowledge, experience and intellect were only exceeded by his incredible personality and passion for our sport. My partners and I were unanimous in our desire to add Advantage Sports Union to our ownership and Alex to Phoenix Rising FC’s leadership.”

According to Sports Illustrated he is a billionaire and will own at least 30% of the team, which is one of the boxes MLS likes to check and the primary box that PRFC had left unchecked. The team is also still seeking additional investors according to co-chairman Brett Johnson.

The other box, an actual stadium to play in. They’ve long had deals in place for land (that are still just pending being given a MLS team — though ownership are keeping their options open). Now they have stadium renders out after narrowing down the list of potential architects and engineers.

The stadium will cost $250 million, will hold 21,000 fans and can be ready by 2021. As has long been rumored, the stadium is not a dome (despite the desert climate) but instead using lots of interesting cooling technology including “water walls” that air will be cooled by as it passes through the stadium. They also have more practical plans like using shade. The western canopy is huge to block the setting sun (as PRFC play almost all their games at night and usually schedule lightly in the summer).

These two moves leave Phoenix as a team that suddenly looks better than some of the three teams left. The question is if MLS will allow them back in the race.

Lots of positive news for Phoenix Rising in this edition!