Real Madrid and Real Salt Lake: The story that ties the two clubs together
One of the key moments in the founding of Real Salt Lake revolved around the then-Real Madrid players, among which was David Beckham, the current co-owned of Inter Miami CF. The Spanish side would travel to the United States to play a friendly game, and it was their stars who laid the foundation stone for the stadium on August 12, 2006. Now, America First Field will be one of the venues for this Wednesday’s **Leagues Cup** action. Here’s a rundown of its history.
The summer of 2004 was a groundbreaking one for MLS, as the league expanded for the first time since 1998. One of Mexican soccer’s most iconic teams, Chivas de Guadalajara, would have their own franchise across the border called Chivas USA in Los Angeles, which would start playing in 2005. The league had also announced the arrival of a second team: Salt Lake City.
Dave Checketts, the owner back then, had become general manager of the Utah Jazz at the age of just 27 back in 1983. He believed that the city was also ready to welcome a soccer team. Although the franchise was initially announced without an official name, he already had one in mind that would go on to be adopted: Real Salt Lake.
“He wanted a name that was authentically soccer”, explained long-time member Trey Fitz-Gerald, now the team’s Director of Communications.
Checketts, who had travelled throughout Europe when he was in charge of NBA International, admired Real Madrid. The fact that the club was a major play both in basketball and in soccer also helped.
“Early on, that was my favorite name,” Checketts explained in an interview to the MLS website, discussing Real Salt Lake. He was clear in his inspiration: “I had been such a fan of Real Madrid and the way that they run everything and their philosophy. I’d spent some time with them as I entered MLS, and built a relationship with them.”
Checketts figured that asking for Real Madrid’s permission to use the name “Real” in their name would be a wise thing to do. And, as he explains, they responded: “You’re going to be our sister team; go with our blessing”. They would officially unveil the new name in October of 2004 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the University of Utah’s stadium. The ground would serve as the team’s first home whilst Checketts was looking to secure the necessary financial help to build a permanent and soccer-specific stadium.
The relationship that Checketts struck with the Spanish team was such that they traveled to Utah for a friendly match, between Real and Real on August 12, 2006. Checketts would ask the Real Madrid management and players to take part in an impromptu press event to announce their new stadium, which county officials were still reticent on green-lighting, and they accepted.
“Literally overnight, we mowed this hayfield that had lain fallow in the middle of Sandy, Utah, for 40 years, and put together a ceremonial groundbreaking. It was the biggest leap of faith”, recalled Fitz-Gerald.
In the space of a whirlwind 24 hours, Checketts ensured that the team was able to set up a stage, microphones, golden shovels, and hard hats with Real’s badge on it. “We even had a marching band out there,” he added.
The governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman, whose contribution would be decisive in getting the deal over the line, also attended at short notice. He was one of 1,500 people who attended the historic event.
Checketts went on: “I knew that that picture of [then Real Madrid player] David Beckham with the shovel would be all over the world. I knew that would put a lot of pressure on the county government. It was me playing some mischief, but it really worked. The news story was everywhere.”
The stadium, which was inaugurated under the name of Rio Tinto, began to be used just before the end of the 2008 season, in what was effectively a preview of things to come in the 2009 campaign, where they clinched the ultimate prize. At the end of the following campaign, RSL overcame the favorites Los Angeles Galaxy to win the MLS Cup, winning the penalty shoot-out 5-4 at Qwest Field in Seattle.
This Wednesday, America First Field, the stadium where David Beckham and company first broke ground, will host Real Salt Lake’s second Leagues Cup 2023 game.
Their first was a convincing 3-0 win over **Seattle Sounders FC**, and the team will now be taking on CF Monterrey at 9:30pm ET (7:30 in Mexico City) as they look to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
