Utah Jazz Owner Ryan Smith Involved In Blitzer Group Purchase Of Real Salt Lake
Jan 5, 2022, 1:29 PM | Updated: 2:19 pm
Ryan Smith of the Utah Jazz and Quatlrics (Photo by Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz owners Ryan Smith and David Blitzer are the two majority owners of Real Salt Lake, the club confirmed in a statement.
A new era has arrived.@MLS, David Blitzer and the Smith Entertainment Group reached an agreement to purchase #RSL.
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 5, 2022
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. While Smith recently purchased the Utah Jazz in the NBA.
“The combination of David Blitzer and Ryan Smith’s SEG form a dream partnership for Real Salt Lake,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “David and Ryan’s teams have become synonymous with how athletics and community intersect, as they have demonstrated leading world-class organizations outside of professional soccer. Both understand the tremendous value that sports teams bring to a community, and they are deeply committed to Utah. This is a proven ownership group that brings resources and experience to elevate every aspect of the RSL organization.”
Blitzer is already the owner of Crystal Palace F.C. of the English Premier League, FC Augsburg of the Bundesliga, Waasland-Beveren of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, the Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders of the Triple-A International League. The Real Salt Lake purchase adds to his soccer ownership resume.
Earlier in the sale process, Smith’s name was frequently linked to the club. Smith was reported to be the frontrunner to purchase the club before negotiations broke down with Dell Loy Hansen.
