Utah's professional sports landscape changed forever in July 2004 with the historic announcement by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber that Salt Lake City would be home to the nine-year old League's 12th team –Real Salt Lake– the second major league sports organization in state history.
"The Salt Lake City bid for a 2005 kickoff emerged from a crowded pack due to the experience and savvy of Dave Checketts and his group," said Commissioner Garber at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the team played its first few seasons. "We are proud to call Salt Lake City home to Major League Soccer."
One year later, in November, Real Salt Lake became the first professional U.S. sports team to sign a jersey-front sponsor, striking up an unprecedented partnership with XanGo, LLC. Soon after joining forces with XanGo, the team began enjoying practice sessions on XanGo Field, a natural grass facility located on the XanGo campus in Lehi, Utah.
On the night of October 9, 2008, local dignitaries and league officials joined ranks with the National Guard in Sandy, Utah to christen 105,000 square feet of laser-level and lush green Kentucky Bluegrass. In other words, it was the momentous opening of Rio Tinto Stadium, official home of Real Salt Lake.
A technological wonder, an architectural masterpiece and an athletic marvel, Rio Tinto Stadium is a testament to Utah, to the Real Salt Lake team, to their supporters and to their sponsors. It is a crown that sits atop the earthy Utah crust with as much grace as the snowcaps that top its majestic mountains.
On game nights in Sandy, the vibrant orange of the XanGo brand borders the vivid green of the pitch–the shadowless stadium lighting putting every detail into easy daylight focus.
Under the management of GM Garth Lagerway and Coach Jason Kreis, the team has accomplished more than the average organization could hope for. In only their 5th season, Real Salt Lake captured the league's top prize, the MLS Cup, after defeating an LA Galaxy team that featured England's David Beckham and Landon Donovan of the U.S.
Their title came just one year after first reaching the playoffs in 2008 and advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando, team captain Kyle Beckerman and fan favorite Andy Williams all figured prominently in the Cup victory and cemented their own place within the promising history of Real Salt Lake. But it wasn't the efforts of any single player that brought the team their title. Every RSL player has firmly bought into the organization's mantra–THE TEAM IS THE STAR.
