America First Field
On the very day team owner Dave Checketts had set as a deadline to have a stadium plan in place or decide to sell the team, a tacit agreement between Checketts, Sandy City, and Salt Lake County was put in place. This moment arrived after months of up and down discussions with local municipalities, county, and state officials. The situation had become so dire that Real Salt Lake's owner announced the team would be sold and likely move out of the Salt Lake area after the 2007 season if no deal emerged. Before this resolution, parties from several cities including Rochester, New York and St. Louis, Missouri expressed interest in purchasing the franchise and moving it away from Utah entirely. The stadium plan encountered difficulties when the Debt Review Committee of Salt Lake County voted against the stadium proposal 4, 0 on the 26th of January 2007. They cited what they saw as Real Salt Lake's financial inviability as the reasoning behind the lack of support. County Mayor Corroon concurred with the DRC and the stadium plan was effectively killed on the 29th of January 2007. A new stadium proposal was made on February 2 that would divert 15 percent roughly $2 million a year of the county's hotel taxes to the stadium project beginning in July until 2017. Such a deal would have to have been made by February 9 or the deal would have been completely off. The bill was passed by the State Senate. After Governor Huntsman made a move that would allow the team to remain in Salt Lake County the Utah House approved House bill 1SHB38 by a 48, 24 margin. This legislation effectively approved $35 million towards the development of Real Salt Lake's new home. The governor was expected to sign the bill and ultimately did so.
The groundbreaking coincided with the Xango Cup which featured Real Salt Lake playing against international power Real Madrid. That afternoon included elected leaders, team officials, as well as the entire rosters of both Real Salt Lake and Real Madrid. On August 15 the deal was officially approved by the Salt Lake County Council. Rossetti's California office served as the architecture firm responsible for the design of the new stadium. The $110 million stadium was built in Sandy a suburb of Salt Lake City. The stadium opened on the 9th of October 2008 when Real Salt Lake hosted the New York Red Bulls. It seats 20,213 for soccer but can be expanded to over 25,000 for concerts. The stadium sits at the base of the Wasatch Range providing a dramatic backdrop for matches played there. Before Real Salt Lake moved into America First Field they had been playing at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium. Other stadium sites in the area were also proposed including the Utah State Fairgrounds in Salt Lake City and the tiny town of Vineyard just west of Provo. Finally after months of negotiations a deal was reached regarding the placement of the Real stadium despite being shot down about a week prior by the Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon saying it was too risky.
On the 28th of September 2008 it was announced that the naming rights to the stadium were sold to international mining company Rio Tinto owners of local mining operation Kennecott Utah Copper. A 15-year deal was set into place worth between $1.5 million and $2 million per year. Rio Tinto's naming rights were to expire in December 2020 but the stadium retained its branding through 2021. Real Salt Lake sought a ten-year commitment from its next stadium naming rights partner. In September 2022 RSL announced a naming rights agreement with America First Credit Union with the stadium renamed America First Field. On the 18th of April 2025 Miller Sports + Entertainment led by former Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller acquired the stadium as part of a $600 million deal for Real Salt Lake. The transition from Rio Tinto Stadium to America First Field marked a significant shift in corporate sponsorship deals over nearly two decades. The original 10-year naming deal signed on the 20th of September 2008 valued at around $1.5 million to $2 million a year established the foundation for future partnerships.
The first match held by the United States men's national soccer team at the stadium took place on the 9th of September 2009 against El Salvador in a fourth-round qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The game ended in a 2, 1 victory for the home side in front of 19,000 spectators. The team returned to the stadium on the 18th of June 2013 in a fourth-round qualifier game for the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Honduras. The home side once again won at the stadium this time a 1, 0 victory in front of 20,250 people. The stadium was used as a host stadium during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and hosted two back-to-back games for Group C on the 13th of July 2013. In the first game the United States defeated Cuba by a score of 4, 1 while in the second Costa Rica pulled out a 1, 0 win against Belize. Both games took place in front of a crowd of 17,597 spectators. The United States women's national soccer team has also played three matches against international opponents at the stadium. The first game was played on the 31st of March 2010 as a friendly match against Mexico. In the first winter game ever played by the US team the home side ended up winning the match 1, 0 thanks to a second half goal by Abby Wambach.
The first concert ever held at the stadium occurred on the 9th of May 2009 featuring The Eagles with Michelle Branch as the opening act. That show sold 18,853 tickets generating $2,183,969 in revenue. On the 13th of July 2010 Paul McCartney performed as part of his Up and Coming Tour selling all 25,414 tickets for $3,193,716. This is the first time McCartney had ever done a show in the state of Utah. The stadium can be expanded to over 25,000 for concerts allowing it to host large-scale entertainment events beyond its standard soccer capacity. Other notable performances included Kiss on the 22nd of September 2010 which marked the band's first show in the state in seven years. Journey performed on the 21st of July 2011 during their Eclipse Tour with Foreigner and Night Ranger as openers selling 11,510 tickets out of 13,972 available seats. Neil Diamond appeared on the 28th of July 2012 while Jason Aldean took the stage on the 27th of July 2013.
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Common questions
When did America First Field open and what was the first match played there?
America First Field opened on the 9th of October 2008 when Real Salt Lake hosted the New York Red Bulls. The stadium seats 20,213 for soccer but can be expanded to over 25,000 for concerts.
Who owns America First Field as of April 2025 and how much was the acquisition deal worth?
Miller Sports + Entertainment led by former Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller acquired the stadium on the 18th of April 2025 as part of a $600 million deal for Real Salt Lake. This transition marked a significant shift in corporate sponsorship deals over nearly two decades.
What is the location of America First Field and which mountain range provides its backdrop?
The $110 million stadium was built in Sandy a suburb of Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Range providing a dramatic backdrop for matches played there. Before Real Salt Lake moved into America First Field they had been playing at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Which international bands have performed at America First Field since it opened in 2008?
Notable performances include The Eagles on the 9th of May 2009 Paul McCartney on the 13th of July 2010 Kiss on the 22nd of September 2010 Journey on the 21st of July 2011 Neil Diamond on the 28th of July 2012 and Jason Aldean on the 27th of July 2013. The stadium can be expanded to over 25,000 for concerts allowing it to host large-scale entertainment events beyond its standard soccer capacity.
When did the United States men's national soccer team play their first match at America First Field and what was the result?
The first match held by the United States men's national soccer team at the stadium took place on the 9th of September 2009 against El Salvador in a fourth-round qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The game ended in a 2, 1 victory for the home side in front of 19,000 spectators.