Everything You Need to Know About The Return of Utah Royals
Looks like someone is making a comeback! On March 11, the NWSL announced the return of the Utah Royals as an expansion team. This was right after Utah was awarded expansion team rights. Let’s save the date for 2024 when the team returns.
We all remember what went wrong last time the Utah Royals played in the NWSL. So it’s totally normal for you to be anxious about whether their return is good or bad. To help you decide, here is everything you need to know about the return of the Utah Royals.
The New Ownership
An important thing to know is that the Utah Royals is the sister team to MLS’ Real Salt Lake. Why is that important? It’s important because Ryan Smith and David Blitzer, owners of RSL, will be Utah Royals’ new owners. We are definitely excited to see what they will bring to the table.
We will also see Blitzer on the NWSL’s board of governors as the “new” Utah Royals’ representative.
Since we keep mentioning all the new things in Utah Royals, it’s only normal that we mention their new president. Michelle Hyncik, RSL’s general counsel, is Utah Royals’ new president.
New @UtahRoyalsFC president Michelle Hyncik just wrapped up a 30-minute call with the media. More to come in the newsletter, but a few highlights:
(1/??) pic.twitter.com/FfJAX2LOJC
— Salt City FC (@saltcityfc) March 13, 2023
The purchase of the Utah Royals was done through Smith Entertainment Group and Blitzer’s Global Football Holdings. This isn’t Blitzer’s first investment since his company has stakes in several clubs; this could be a good sign for the fans. So far, Blitzer has stakes in Cleveland Guardians, Crystal Palace, and more. He is also part owner of the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers.
Not A Sudden Choice
More good news is that the return of the Utah Royals wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. This is definitely reassuring for any worried fans.
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“When we acquired Real Salt Lake last year, we said it was a matter of when, not if, the NWSL would return to Utah. This has always been an integral part of our mission. With today’s announcement, we are thrilled to fulfill the promise we made to our incredible fan base,” said Blitzer in an official statement.
What Changed and What Stayed the Same
With the return of the Utah Royals, one might expect that everything will be new. But that’s not the case.
One of the things that didn’t change is, of course, the team’s name. While the team’s crest changed but at the same time, it didn’t. We see in the new crest that artist Tobah Kaiser and her team kept the lioness and the color scheme. However, the badge changed, and to be honest, it does look better.
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Another familiar thing is the stadium since the Utah Royals will play at RSL’s home stadium. This mix of old and new is making us even more excited for what’s to come. In relation to the stadium, the naming sponsor of the stadium, America First Credit Union, will be the team’s front-of-shirt sponsor.
Welcome Back
Since the club’s return, the Utah Royals’ social media team has been busy retweeting all the “welcome back” tweets.
So far, the teams that congratulated them include Angel City FC, NJ/NY Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, Portland Thorns FC, and even more.
The Utah Royals’ return is an exciting one, especially when we remember how they previously had strong attendance in the NWSL; the average was around 10,000 fans! With numbers like this, the competition in 2024 will be something to watch.
Not An Easy Mission
While many people are excited about the Utah Royals’ return, many are worried.
There are so many questions that we will have to wait and see if they will ever have a satisfying answer. For example, we can’t help but wonder if the past will repeat itself or if things actually changed.
Still marveling that the new Utah Royals are really going to make their team, comprised entirely of women, many who are LGBTQ+, many who are BIPOC, many who aren’t from the US, wear jerseys with the logo “AMERICA FIRST credit union” across their chests. Find a different sponsor.
— Liz Lincoln, get She’s a Keeper now! (@TheLizLincoln) March 12, 2023
Another important question is the safety of the Royals’ players. We can’t forget that Utah is a red state, and many feel that the state isn’t entirely welcoming for the LGBTQ+ community or women. However, the Utah Royals did announce they will stand with the NWSL in providing funds for employees to receive out-of-state abortion and healthcare.
For now, we will say welcome back. In the future, we hope that we won’t hear any unfortunate news relating to the safety of the Utah Royals and their players.
Featured image via @UtahRoyalsFC on Twitter
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