USL club Phoenix FC is "adding upwards of 4,000 seats" to Arizona State Univ.'s Sun Devil Soccer Stadium, Phoenix FC's home for its inaugural '13 season through '15, according to Odeen Domingo of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The club "signed a three-year deal" with ASU and "has a five- to six-year goal of becoming a MLS club." BDR Sports, which owns Phoenix FC, has "invested $600,000 to revamp Sun Devil Soccer Stadium's amenities and increase the stadium seating" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/12). Phoenix FC President Tim Thomas said that the "goal is to have the stadium ready on Feb. 10." He said of possible matches, scrimmages or practices with MLS clubs, "I don't know if we have enough time to schedule things with MLS. There are some discussions out there." Arizona State AD & VP/Athletics Steve Patterson said, "One of the things we want to do is to open up the campus to people who don't necessarily come here every day" (AZCENTRAL.com, 12/12).
VEGAS, BABY: In Las Vegas, Laura Carroll noted for the first time, the MLS Challenge and Int'l Classic is "coming to Sam Boyd Stadium." The Feb. 15-17 event will be presented by rugby event organizing group USA Sevens. The tournament is being "organized by the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club, and will incorporate the 10-year-old Las Vegas Mayor's Cup into the weekend events" (LVRJ.com, 12/11).
BROTHERLY LOVE IN FLORIDA: Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown yesterday said that the MLS Union have "committed to playing one preseason game at EverBank Field in each of the next three years." Brown added that it is "another momentum-building step in a lengthy process to bring an MLS club to Jacksonville" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 12/12).
