Opening Day: October 9, 2008
Capacity: 20,000
Surface: Grass
Current Owner: Dell Loy Hansen
Team Website: www.realsaltlake.com
Team Phone: 801-727-2700
Address: 9256 South State St., Sandy, UT 84070
Directions:
From the South: Follow I-15 North, then take the 10600 South exit and make a right onto 10600 South, and then turn left onto State Street. Follow the signs for parking.
From the North: Follow I-15 South, then follow the 9000 South exit and take a right to head east on 9000. Turn right onto State Street and follow signs for parking.
From Salt Lake City International Airport: Follow I-80 East until you reach I-15 South, and then follow 15 until you reach the 9000 South exit. Take a right and head east on 9000, then turn right onto State Street and follow signs for parking.
Only 15 minutes outside of Salt Lake City and in full view of the mountains, Rio Tinto Stadium has some of the best scenery of any in the MLS circuit. Home of the Real Salt Lake Club since the stadium’s inception in 2008, Rio Tinto prides itself on being the premier venue for soccer in the state of Utah. For instance, the Rio Tinto site prides itself on having natural Kentucky Bluegrass as its playing surface, a strain of grass (it’s proud to say) it receives from the same supplier as Wrigley Field, Busch Stadium Notre Dame Stadium and Lambeau Field.
Rio Tinto Stadium’s seats span the entire circumference of the stadium. While the seats are predominantly red, there are a group of white, yellow and black seats—all four colors compromise the team’s colors at home and abroad. The white seats (along the length of one side of the field) spell out “Real Salt Lake” while the yellow and black seats (behind one of the goals). The lengths of the field also bear Teflon-coated roof structures to hem spectators into the stadium. Rio Tinto Stadium also houses 32 suites, 1,000 club seats, a 2,000 square foot Stadium Club and the Budweiser Club Real room for spectators. Concessions include pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and other sports favorites.