What a RioT for RSL: Welcome to America First Field
What a RioT for RSL: Welcome to America First Field
The "major announcement" that began leaking three days earlier involved the new name of the Major League Soccer-specific stadium in Sandy.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but William Shakespeare never penned an anthem dedicated to Real Salt Lake that included the nickname of the club’s home stadium, Rio Tinto Stadium.
Like Romeo and Juliet’s love, the RioT has passed on (but continues to live forever); America First Field is here to stay, effective immediately.
The long-rumored announcement became official when Real Salt Lake officials removed the awnings overseeing the stadium Saturday afternoon before its match with D.C. United, revealing the new name of a stadium that has officially been without a (paid) sponsor for close to a year.
Real Salt Lake President John Kimball, RSL co-owner Ryan Smith, MLS commissioner Don Garber were joined by season ticket holders, and credit union members, as well as America First president and CEO Thayne Shaffer for the announcement.
“Since our inaugural game back in 2005, America First Credit Union has supported Real Salt Lake’s connection with this community, offering our amazing fans numerous in-stadium, grassroots and digital initiatives,” Kimball said of one of the club’s founding sponsors. “This partnership has grown immensely over our 18 seasons, and today’s unveiling of the America First Field signage and nomenclature propels the partnership to an entirely new level. Both RSL and America First Credit Union share many tenets, including an ambitious vision of, commitment to, and innovation for our collective community. The depth, breadth and term of this naming rights deal for America First Field is exemplary of that partnership, and we look forward to further deepening our jointly held roots across not only the great state of Utah but throughout the Intermountain West.”
The club will continue to host Utah High School Activities Association soccer competitions for both boys and girls, as well as American football, rugby, lacrosse, monster truck, motocross and more at the newly named stadium, according to a club release.
“This is your home,” said Smith, whose other club, the NBA’s Utah Jazz, recently announced an exclusive credit union partnership with America First. “I hope every single one of your employees and your customers view this place as your home. We couldn’t be more excited.
“Welcome to your new home.”
Real Salt Lake billed the announcement as, through color commentary and club ambassador Brian Dunseth, a way to expand a longstanding partnership with a club sponsor.
“Since we opened the stadium and moved to Sandy, we’ve had one of the most dominant home-field advantages in MLS,” Kimball said. “We’re so excited for our future.”
Garber said the new stadium sponsor is a key to the future of the club, both economically and on the pitch.
“In order to be successful, you have to have great partners,” Garber said. “I couldn’t be more excited for the next generation of what RSL is going to be.
“Everything that we wanted from the very beginning of building the soccer nation in our country, we’re building it right here as one of our foundational teams in one of our foundational markets.”