Report: Blitzer Led Group Buys Real Salt Lake Adding To Existing Pro Sports Assets
Jan 5, 2022, 11:13 AM | Updated: 11:14 am
Philadelphia 76ers co-owner David Blitzer celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Wells Fargo Center on March 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – A group led by David Blitzer reached an agreement to purchase Real Salt Lake, according to reports from Sportico.
Blitzer is also co-owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. He will become the controlling owner of the club and the main representative with the MLS, the report detailed.
EXCLUSIVE: A group led by David Blitzer, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, has reached an agreement to purchase @MLS club @realsaltlakehttps://t.co/SzbE1wH7hR pic.twitter.com/qKriorcNFv
— Sportico (@Sportico) January 5, 2022
Arctos Sports Partners, a private equity fund with other sports league investments is also involved in the deal. No details of their involvement have been reported.
Blitzer is close to being an investor in all five major US sports league. He also has a number of soccer holdings including the Premier League’s Crystal Palace, Bundesligs’s FC Augsburg and Belgium’s Waasland-Beveren.
Real Salt Lake has been without ownership since the summer of 2020 following the dismissal of former owner Dell Loy Hansen. Despite the lack of ownership, Real Salt Lake went on a playoff run that concluded with a 2-0 loss at Providence Park against Portland in the Western Conference Final.
Major League Soccer Commissioner, Don Garber on the progress and sale of @realsaltlake to new ownership during the 2021 State of the League address. #RSL #DaleReal #MLS pic.twitter.com/joQOr7afOg
— Andy Muñoz (@andymunoz48) December 7, 2021
Assets included in the deal include Real Salt Lake, Rio Tinto Stadium, the Real Monarchs and all training facilities, according to the report.
The main hub for Real Salt Lake sits in Herriman, Utah where a $65 million facility stands. Multiple outdoor practice fields, two indoor fields, a school, stadium, apartment complexes and other assets exist. It was a project led by Dell Loy Hansen that was completed in August of 2017.
The facilities in Herriman are considered some of the best in North America.
