Phoenix Rising FC Youth
Overview
Phoenix Rising FC Youth is the largest youth soccer club in Arizona by revenue and geographic coverage. The club operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the legal name Arcadia Scottsdale United Soccer Club (EIN: 86-0395005), tax-exempt since September 1981. Originally founded as the Scottsdale Soccer Blackhawks in 1981, the club merged with Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) in 2018 to create a youth-to-professional pathway.
The club serves 6 geographic regions across Arizona: Scottsdale, Desert Foothills, North Valley, Prescott, Southeast Valley, and West Valley.
Financials
| Fiscal Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,531,262 | $6,391,515 | $2,594,927 |
| 2024 | $5,643,014 | $5,568,091 | $2,505,322 |
| 2023 | $5,038,564 | $5,029,801 | $2,768,583 |
| 2022 | $3,815,203 | $3,845,164 | $2,677,742 |
| 2021 | $3,468,155 | $2,983,366 | $2,616,685 |
| 2020 | $3,189,288 | $3,101,582 | $2,002,594 |
| 2018 | $2,745,846 | $2,722,219 | $1,743,830 |
Source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, 990 filings (HIGH).
Key trends: Consistent year-over-year growth. Revenue increased 138% from $2.7M (2018, pre-merger) to $6.5M (2025). Net assets healthy at $2.6M. This is a healthy, growing club with strong financial fundamentals.
Teams & Players
- 179+ competitive teams
- 3,500+ recreational players
- 1,800+ competitive players
- Total: 5,300+ players (MEDIUM)
- Ages 4-18, boys and girls
League Affiliations
Boys: MLS Next (Homegrown pathway via Phoenix Rising FC), USL Academy, NL Club Premier 1 & 2 Girls: ECNL, ECNL-RL, NL Club Premier 1
Facilities
Training facilities distributed across 6 geographic regions. Uses Scottsdale municipal fields and other facilities.
Leadership
- Chris Brown — Executive Director
- Neil Graham — Development Director (recreational programs)
- Phoenix Rising FC provides professional club affiliation and brand
Competitive Position
The largest and highest-revenue youth soccer club in Arizona. The Phoenix Rising FC brand provides credibility, professional pathway access, and marketing advantages that independent clubs cannot match. Direct competitor to RSL-AZ for the “professional pathway” positioning.
Strengths: Scale, brand, revenue growth, geographic coverage, MLS Next + ECNL dual platform Weaknesses: Dependent on Phoenix Rising FC relationship; if Phoenix Rising gains MLS status the youth pathway changes significantly
Industry Context
Phoenix Rising FC Youth is the dominant club in Arizona by revenue ($6.5M), geographic footprint (6 regions), and player count (5,300+). The Phoenix Rising FC professional affiliation provides credibility and marketing advantages that independent clubs cannot easily replicate. Any new entrant into the Arizona youth soccer market must position against this club’s scale and brand. The dual elite platform (MLS Next boys + ECNL girls) is particularly difficult to displace.
Open Questions
- What happens to the youth program if Phoenix Rising FC gains MLS franchise status (Mesa MLS bid)?
- What is the club’s facility ownership vs. lease structure?
- What is Chris Brown’s appetite for partnership or platform affiliation?