USL club Phoenix Rising GM Bobby Dulle said he wants to bring the "highest level" of soccer to Arizona, which would require the franchise "making the jump" to MLS, according to Greg Moore of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Since Dulle joined Phoenix Rising in '16, he has "helped secure the club’s pop-up stadium on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community near Tempe and put together the new ownership group" that includes musician Diplo and former Chelsea F Didier Drogba, who now plays for the Rising. But Dulle's goals are "higher." He said of MLS, “It’s the highest level, right? And we want to bring Arizona the highest level of soccer here in North America." Moore noted there are "plenty of hurdles" for the club and there is the "reality that Phoenix is a crowded sports market with MLB, NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, college and plenty of boxing and MMA cards." The Alliance of American Football also "plans to arrive soon." The MLS clock is "likely ticking," as the "magic number for top-level pro teams seems to be 30, with the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB all hovering around that figure." Phoenix is "in consideration for one of the next spots, but the competition will be thick." Charlotte, Detroit, Indianapolis, Sacramento, San Diego and St. Louis are "among cities putting together bids." Dulle said, “Our goal is to get everything firmed up within the year, so they can have all the information they need to give us what we deserve here in the state of Arizona" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/22).
