Miller Sports + Entertainment Announces Purchase Of Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals

SALT LAKE CITY – Miller Sports and Entertainment reached a deal to buy Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals, the organization announced Friday morning.

A press conference was held at America First Field to officially announce the deal.

CEO of Miller Sports + Entertainment Steve Starks confirmed the”acquisition of controlling interests” in RSL Football holdings. David Blitzer will still be an invested partner, but Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) will no longer be involved.

The purchase includes Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Utah Royals FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), along with the Real Monarchs of MLS NEXT Pro and the RSL Academy. Real estate assets include America First Field, Zions Bank Stadium and Zions Bank Training Center.

Introduction video at the Miller Sports and Entertainment press conference. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/rZsSDb0z09

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“We are honored to join the Real Salt Lake Club and invest in the highest levels of men’s and women’s soccer in both RSL and the Royals,” said Starks. “We are grateful for David Blitzer’s trust, and I am confident our combined experience in sports leadership will elevate soccer within Utah and support the Club’s goal of winning championships. We are proud to join the ‘RioT’ and an incredibly passionate fanbase.”

Reports first surfaced in late March that talks over this sale were occurring.

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David Blitzer As Owner Of Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC

Blitzer and the Smith Entertainment Group purchased Real Salt Lake in January 2022 to end a streak of two years without ownership that began in 2020 with the dismissal of former owner Dell Loy Hansen.

The transaction included Rio Tinto Stadium, Zions Bank Training Center, and RSL Academy in Herriman, Utah.

The day after purchasing Utah’s MLS team, Blitzer and SEG released a statement on their intention to bring the NWSL back to the Beehive State. They delivered on that promise just over a year later as the league announced its intention to expand to three cities – San Francisco, Boston, and Utah. The Royals resumed play in 2024.

In three seasons under the current ownership, Real Salt Lake has made the playoffs and finished with a top-seven record in the MLS every year.

the Riot brings the energy every time 🔥

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“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Miller family into the Club,” said Blitzer. “We are aligned in our values and commitment to building a great culture and championship-level teams. Our sports teams are best when we have a strong, local partner, and Miller Sports + Entertainment will truly enable Real Salt Lake Holdings to accomplish our visionary goals. I’ve loved my experience in Utah, and this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our strong fanbase and loyal soccer supporters.”

About The Miller Family

The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, founded by Larry and Gail Miller in the late 1970s, has been a keystone in Utah sports for decades.

It all began with the half-purchase of the Utah Jazz that eventually became a full purchase in 1986. The Jazz were a struggling franchise when Miller made the deal, but his gamble turned out to be more than a worthwhile investment. The team was sold to SEG in 2020 for $1.66 billion.

“The future of Real Salt Lake is in great hands with the Miller organization and David Blitzer,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The Millers have a long-standing commitment to community, youth sports, and sound business operations, and we have a proven history with David, one of the most accomplished sports owners in the world. Together, this group is perfectly positioned to strengthen the club and grow soccer in Utah and the region.”

In addition to over three decades as owners of the Utah Jazz, the Millers also owned the Salt Lake Bees, Salt Lake Golden Eagles, and the Utah Starzz.

The Miller family and the Larry H. Miller Company also lead the Big League Utah MLB coalition, which aims to position Salt Lake City as an ideal market for an MLB franchise.

How To Watch Real Salt Lake

All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.

All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2024 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.

You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.

For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram. 

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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