When Phoenix Rising fans can’t see a game in person, they head to watch parties in bars and restaurants. Players like Santi Moar (front) are grateful for the support. (Photo by Harrison Zhang / Cronkite News) PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC have been a club on the move, with five of their last seven games away from home. But fans have found ways to show their support no matter where the club is playing. The Rising, who secured their home field during the playoffs, will return home on Saturday to face the Tacoma Defiance in the regular season finale. When it comes to away games, the Rising Organization hosts official watch parties that allow fans to gather around, support the team, and create the atmosphere they enjoy at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex when the team is at home. “It’s like a mini home game,” says Bryan Kim, Rising Premium Sales Manager. “Especially when the team is doing well, the noise of the watch party echoes through the whole restaurant, bar. Normally we reach between 50 and over 100 fans.” The crowd is usually smaller when the game is not far away, said Kim because a lot of Rising fans are ready to travel for these games. The watch parties are an idea the team committed to, even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to support local restaurants and pamper fans. When restaurants couldn’t host the watch parties, the team offered special take-away dishes to help. The location of the watch parties changes every week, from bars near the stadium like Wicked BBS to venues in downtown Phoenix like The Churchill, which has bars and restaurants set around an open-air communal area with big screen TVs. “Phoenix Rising’s bar network partners are season ticket members,” said Kim. “There is no additional obligation from them. We want to help local restaurants around the Valley while also connecting our fans in Arizona. ”Related Story The companies participating in these watch parties participate in Pub 2 Pitch, a service that Rising offers to people for free from the bar to the stadium and back. “The Rising is great to work with,” said Chris Mancini, manager at RT O’Sullivans. “Anything to do business is great for us.” The party planning process begins when the club receives the official schedule. “Each bar network location that has joined for the season will pick dates as soon as the schedule is posted,” said Kim. “From there we make sure that we get all the information we need from our bar network partners, e. Once all the final details are cleared up, fans can enjoy the rewards and support the team no matter where they play. “I haven’t been to many of these watch parties, but I’m grateful they do,” said Nick Scham, a Rising fan. “I have a lot of fun with a group of fans and I support the club that I love. What more can I ask for? “The atmosphere that the fans create at the parties creates the excitement they experience at the games – even if the team can’t really hear it Break out chants, whether it’s in the south of the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex or at a watch party with fellow Rising fans, ”said Kim.
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