Phoenix Rising FC Governor Berke Bakay leads an ownership comprised of successful and experienced CEOs, private equity financiers, entrepreneurs, real estate experts, surgeons and global leaders in the entertainment industry – including multi-platinum recording artist Diplo, Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz and veteran Major League Baseball pitcher Brandon McCarthy. The ownership group also includes Tucson native Dr. Mark Leber. The successful USL club acquired FC Tucson in October 2017, continuing to reinforce its investment into professional soccer in Arizona.

“We’re on the front lines of the growth of professional soccer in the U.S., and we see tremendous potential for professional soccer in Tucson,” said Dr. Leber. “The city has proven time and again, through its successful MLS Preseason tournament and support of FC Tucson in the PDL, that there is an appetite for professional soccer in the market. At Phoenix Rising FC, we intend to continue raising the bar for the quality of soccer in the state, and launching a professional team in Tucson will help us establish a true player development pipeline.”

The city of Tucson has experienced the thrill of professional soccer for years, as FC Tucson has hosted an MLS Preseason event, the Mobile Mini Sun Cup, since 2011. The event regularly draws sellout crowds, and is featuring 11 MLS clubs, as well as Phoenix Rising FC, for this year’s tournament at Kino Sports Complex which began with a sell-out crowd on February 3rd and will continue through February 24th.

FC Tucson – which currently competes at Kino North Stadium – will anchor the western expansion of USL Division III, as the league grows to a three-conference structure, emphasizing regional rivalries. The club joins South Georgia Tormenta FC, based in Statesboro, Georgia, as a founding member of the new league. Led by Majority Owners Darin and Netra Van Tassell, Tormenta FC has established itself as one of the premier amateur teams across the United States. Tormenta FC recently filed plans to construct a new state-of-the-art 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in Statesboro, which will provide an exciting and authentic professional soccer experience for fans and players.