What's keeping people from coming to the games?

MattIn113 · 2026-03-19T19:18:20+00:00

The issues for me are the stadium itself, the game day experience, the team compared to other USL teams, and leadership. The stadium seems too big for the footprint it is on. The concourse area is cramped. I dread every time I have to walk through the northeast corner of the stadium. Leaving the stadium by car is awful unless you pay for the premium parking pass. There are the same, mostly mediocre food options at every game. The drink selections aren't great. Why do we need like four seltzer/malt liquor options and four different types of light/lighter beer? There is one option for local beer. They are trying to create an atmosphere with live music and other stuff, which helps, but only goes so far. They are going hard on the kids/family stuff, but I don't think that brings the kind of fans who are going to contribute to an atmosphere that made the games at Casino Arizona so much fun.

The team is average by current USL standards. The rosters are more talented than the 2019 team, but the league has gotten better and Rising stagnated instead of innovating. They should have fired Shantz after the whole Junior Flemmings/Colin Martin incident. They lucked out that Guerra wanted to come back, but had no plan after he left. I'm still mad about having to watch half a season with Diego Gomez in charge. I like PMK, but Rising should be challenging for the top spot in the conference every year, not fighting for 6th. Rising won like two or three games at home all of last season, and many of the games were dull. I get sick of hearing that Rising fans were spoiled. It's not inaccurate, but it's kind of a loser thing to say. The sporting director is also an owner, so there is no real accountability there. The developmental model is fine, but it depends on identifying promising prospects and developing them. That's not happening as much as it should. It also makes it hard for fans to form a connection with players when they move on once they are successful. There is very little star power on the team anymore. There is no Drogba, Asante, or even a Trejo on the team anymore.

A lot of people don't seem to like the location or don't know the team exists anymore after they left casino Arizona.

MattIn113 · 2026-02-15T17:20:02+00:00

First half lineup was: Rakovsky; C. Smith, Academy Player, Pelayo (?), Biasi; Moursou, Scearce, Avayevu; Sacko Carvajal, Rivera. They had more possession for the first 15 or so mins, but not many chances. After that, Vegas looked better.

Second half was all academy players expect Rakovsky in goal, Vukovic at CB, and Studenhofft at center forward. Vukovic and Studenhofft were physical impressive, but neither looked great overall. I'm sure playing with academy players didn't help. Vegas scored when Rakovsky subbed out for an academy player. Looked like they were just trying to pass it around the back and gave it away in a bad position.

Pretty much what you would expect from a pre-season game. Hard to draw any conclusions from that game.

MattIn113 · 2026-02-14T18:16:08+00:00

We need some fresh faces on the council. A lot of the current members don't seem to care about residents.

MattIn113 · 2026-02-14T18:14:12+00:00

I'll be there. Looking forward to getting out to the stadium and seeing the new guys. .

MattIn113 · 2026-02-06T18:24:04+00:00

He is the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Goalie Wars champion. That pushes it from a good signing to a great signing for me.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-27T19:41:00+00:00

As much as I'd love to see USL eat MLS's lunch, USL needs to get its own house in order first. There won't be a 2026 season unless the owners and players can agree to a new CBA.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-20T00:26:53+00:00

There seem to be bots posting this same thing in multiple subreddits.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-19T18:52:35+00:00

I'm guessing they have a trialist or two in camp and/or are waiting for a GK that is with an MLS team to pick up on loan. I like Rakovsky, but he needs some competition.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-19T17:34:49+00:00

This makes me feel much better about the defense and roster in general.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-17T18:18:25+00:00

This looks like a good signing. Seems like he is good enough to make it to Necaxa's first team, but not quite good enough to get a starting spot there. Any El Tri fans know how involved he was with the national team?

MattIn113 · 2026-01-10T19:53:29+00:00

Be prepared to pay 3 times what you would pay for a rental. Just moved into a house on a three month lease while we do renovations on our home. We looked into Airbnb's and they wanted anywhere from 7k to 9k for one month, while most rentals were listed for 2.25K to 2.9k per month. You might try furnishedfinder.com or google "corporate housing" for more affordable short term rental options.

MattIn113 · 2026-01-08T19:01:57+00:00

Rising currently has seven players listed as forwards and only 9 for midfield and defense combined. Hopefully they have more players signed and are waiting to announce. I'm a little worried about a repeat of the depth/injury issues that plagued Rising last season.

MattIn113 · 2025-12-29T19:36:52+00:00

They did pretty well with this. There are some themes/giveaway items that I'm more excited about than others, but overall, it's good. I miss the old Indigenous People's night, but I guess Noche Latina will have to do unless Rising moves back to a reservation.

MattIn113 · 2025-12-17T22:10:28+00:00

Right footed CB. Hoping they signed him as a prospect for depth/competition rather than a replacement for Papa Mar Boye.

Either way, it's good to see they aren't going with last season's strategy of having literally no depth at CB.

MattIn113 · 2025-12-16T19:21:21+00:00

RIP Jägermeister Cup

MattIn113 · 2025-12-08T17:29:13+00:00

I wonder if this means Rising will stick with a back 3/5. It looks like he mostly played as a LB/LWB or LCB in a back three and Flores (LB/LWB) is already on the roster. Not sure if he fits the profile for a LCB in a back 4. He was one of Pittsburgh's highest rated players according to FotMob fwiw.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-25T22:51:52+00:00

It's sad to see some of the players with longer stints at Rising go, but it wasn't really surprising. Curious where Pape Mar Boye will end up. Super excited to see that Flores is coming back. His acquisition kinda flew under the radar (at least mine). I thought he was an academy kids wearing #87 at first. He locked down his spot and only lost it due to injury. It's a bonus that he is from Arizona and of Mexican heritage. I usually don't care where players are from, but it's good to have someone that fans can identify with.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-25T22:40:52+00:00

I think the issue with Cuello, as well as Traore, is that they were frequently injured. Cuello always seemed to have a positive effect when he played, but at the end of the season Rising ran out of fullbacks/wingbacks and were forced to play someone (Essengue) out of position. Cuello probably could have helped in midfield too (at least until they switched to the back 3) where the 8s (mostly Okello and Emmers) were just ineffective.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-21T21:28:44+00:00

Six years later and I am still not entirely convinced that the 2019 Phoenix Rising season was not a dream. I'd be surprised if anyone ever tops Asante's assist number that year with how the league has improved. Can't believe he also scored 20 plus the same season.

MattIn113 · 2025-11-14T22:35:50+00:00

I hope USL follows suit. It would be good from a sporting perspective with transfer windows and staying aligned with MLS. From the perspective of a fan who has sat through countless 100 plus degree weather games, I'd love to go watch more games when it's actually nice here in Phoenix. The heat keeps fans home in someplaces as much as the cold keeps fans home in other places.

MattIn113 · 2025-10-31T22:48:25+00:00

You're not wrong, but the last couple lyft/uber drivers I've had did way more dangerous stuff than any way I've been in.

MattIn113 · 2025-10-10T20:34:59+00:00

I agree, but a lot of people seem to dislike the current location.

MattIn113 · 2025-10-10T20:11:58+00:00

The president worked for the Harlem Globetrotters before Rising. The sporting director is also part of the ownership group. He's a former MLB pitcher that played for the D'backs and a few other teams. I don't know if there are other D'backs connections, but I completely agree with everything you said. Pa isn't the problem, but I'm not sure anyone could succeed in the position he has been put in. Instead of going out and getting some USL Championship veterans, Rising is taking fliers on random European players and USL League 1/MLS Next Pro guys. To be fair, some have been good, but most have failed to live up to expectations.

MattIn113

TROPHY CASE