The sale of the Real Salt Lake soccer team, Rio Tinto Stadium and associated properties is expected to bring at least $500 million, the Sports Business Journal reported Thursday.
Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen announced Aug. 30 that he is seeking to sell Utah Soccer Holdings, which owns the Major League Soccer club, the Utah Royals FC of the National Women's Soccer League, Real Monarchs of the United Soccer League and the 20,200-seat venue in Sandy, Utah.
Hansen, who acquired majority ownership of Real Salt Lake in 2013, had been under pressure since a report from The Athletic last month cited his repeated use of racist language to and in front of team employees.
"I recognize that at times I have spoken too quickly, without pausing to consider the feelings or good intentions of others," Hansen wrote in a note to the Real Salt Lake Community, per MLS.com. "This is not acceptable and I assume full responsibility for allowing my words to travel unfiltered as to their significance and impact."
Sports Business Journal reported that starting talks are at the $500 million mark, adding bidders could include Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Utah Jazz and Triple-A baseball Salt Lake Bees, as well as Ryan Smith, CEO and co-founder of Utah-based software company Qualtrics.
J.J. Watt of the NFL's Houston Texans and Jozy Altidore of Toronto FC both tweeted interest in late August in being involved in groups that potentially could purchase the MLS franchise. Watt's wife, Kealia, plays for the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL and grew up in Draper, Utah., located just south of Sandy.
He needs to sell the team then. I’m involved in a group that’s ready to purchase it. Time for change. https://t.co/ETiM3YUyxr
— Jozy Altidore (@JozyAltidore) August 27, 2020
I’m interested. https://t.co/CvjIiBTHsq
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 30, 2020
The preference will be to sell all the properties as a unit instead of individually, according to the publication.
