Phoeni Rising FC officials say the club’s April 30 season opener is nearly sold out, but a limited number of individual-game tickets are expected to go on sale next week.

The club is limiting capacity to 50 percent, or about 5,000 fans, at the new stadium at Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Community.

Finishing touches, including a new video board, have been added in the past week at the facility, which will be ready to welcome fans when the regular season kicks off, said General Manager Bobby Dulle.

“We are tying the loose ends,” he said. ” We are doing some last-minute electrical stuff, scoreboard panel and speakers running. We got some work to do but we are definitely on track to be ready to rock and roll come April 30th.”

The team opens against division rival San Diego Loyal SC, after finsihing its preseason with two more preseason games.

Given the limited capacity because of the ongoing pandemic, the season opener is nearly sold out with season ticket holders getting a guaranteed seat for the game, Dulle said.

“A majority of the fans(for the season opener) will be season ticket members,” Dulle said. “We are holding back a limited supply for single game tickets that will most likely go on sale early next week. For the most part, it will be season ticket members that will utilize the space and some of our partners.”

The club could eventually expand capacity, but will prioritize health and safety, he said.

“It will be something that we will continue to monitor,” Dulle said. “We have discussion with the Gila River Indian Community and state officials to monitor everything as things progress and hopefully do not go the wrong direction, as more and more people get vaccinated and you see more locations/venues expand their capacity. We are not going to commit to a certain date or match with player, fan and staff safety at the forefront of any decision we make.We will start season this way and keep evaluating it on a ongoing basis.”

Among other protocols, fans will be required to wear masks at the stadium unless eating and drinking at their seat. All transactions will be cashless and only clear-view bags will be allowed inside.

“We will have one location within the venue for individuals that only have cash, (they) can secure a card in exchange. Hand sanitizing stations throughout and permanent bathrooms that will be much more cleanlier than our previous site, which will help.” he said.

The team still is evaluating how to handle pre-game tailgating or fan gatherings around the stadium.

“We are still working on some plans internally but safety is at the forefront of our decisions on what we will do,” Dulle said. “Nothing has been finalized yet but due to limitations we will not be able to do everything we would like to do from a pre-game party, per se, like we are accustomed to in previous years.

Dulle said even if pre-game partying is not quite the same, fans will be excited when they see the new facility, which replaces its previous home on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community off Loop 202 near Tempe.

“A lot of work has gone in to the build,” Dulle said. “The relationship and partnership with the Gila River Indian community cannot be in a better spot. We are so fortunate to have great partners and our fans will be appreciate of all the work and amenities. I am excited for fans to get back in here to see all the work that has been put in and cheer on our team to more victories.”

The new stadium, part of a facility that includes practice facilities and indoor training rooms, is located on the Gila River community off Interstate 10, south of the Loop 202 freeway, in the southeast Valley.

New kits

The club revealed the new kits they will wear in the 2021 season.

The club  signed a six-year apparel agreement with Adidas, the first kits the company has made for the club. Carvana is the major sponsor on the jersey fronts through 2023, with Mayo Clinic on the sleeve.

The club’s home kit is all red look with three white stripes along the top of the shoulders down the side of the shorts and across the top of the socks. The cuffs of the sleeves and neck collar will be black and white.

Phoenix’s away kit will be all-white with diagonal red lines across the jersey with red and gold as the collar and shirt cuff colors.  The club’s alternative third kit will be the all-black with similar diagonal lines but in fading white color. The shirt collar and cuffs will be black and white.