Utah Jazz Owner Ryan Smith Patiently Waiting For MLS To Take Over Real Salt Lake Sale Process
Dec 18, 2020, 3:05 PM
Ryan Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Qualtrics peaks on stage during the third day of the 2015 Web Summit on November 5, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. The Web Summit is now in it's 4th year and is technology's most global gathering. In numbers, it has 42,000 attendees from 134 countries, 1,000 speakers, 2,100 startups and 1,200 media. (Photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Getty Images)
(Photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith is patiently waiting for Major League Soccer to take over the sale of Real Salt Lake according to Sam Stejskal from The Athletic.
“Ryan Smith is interested in RSL and he’s just waiting out Dell Loy Hansen. MLS is set to take over the sale process of that club on January 8th if Hansen cannot find a buyer before then,” Stejskal said. “My expectation is that Smith will come into the process pretty quickly after January 8 and potentially work out a deal.”
Sam Stejskal of the Athletic said this on the Allocation Disorder podcast this week in regards to the sale of Real Salt Lake: pic.twitter.com/44dWWZnbU5
— Lucas Muller (@lucaswmuller) December 18, 2020
RSL, Smith Tour Facilities
Sources confirmed to KSL Sports in September that Ryan Smith was involved in a tour of Real Salt Lake’s facilities, however, the immediate meeting following the tour between Smith and RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen was not productive.
MLS will take over the sale on January 8th. It is expected for Smith to begin negotiating with the league shortly thereafter.
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Smith would rather deal with the league and their lawyers as opposed to Hansen’s camp, apparently.
Asking Fee
In August, it was reported that Hansen was seeking $500 million for the enterprise. Since then, however, Utah Royals FC was sold to a group in Kansas City earlier this month which will subsequently lower the asking price by Hansen.
Ryan Smith wouldn't be the first owner to own both a soccer and basketball franchise…
It is still very possible he buys @realsaltlake. #RSL is selling for roughly $400-500 m, the Jazz was valued at 1.55 B in Feb, 2020.
Qualtrics was acquired for 8 BILLION in 2019…
— Tom Hackett (@TomCantHackett) October 28, 2020
It has been rumored that Hansen will receive anywhere from $350-400 million by the time the sale has been finalized.
During MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s State of the Game address last week, he issued the following statement regarding the impending sale of RSL —
“MLS is prepared to take over the sales process of Real Salt Lake and Utah Soccer Holdings,” Garber said. “Our right to take over the sales process is soon. It’s more likely than not we’ll assume that role in the next 30 days or so.”
