RIO TINTO STADIUM – After a year of planning, soccer fans in Utah are getting a chance to see one of England’s best teams play against Real Salt Lake.
For some soccer fans, having a chance to see an international powerhouse like Manchester United is a special treat. One fan we spoke with says he loves traveling across the country as popular teams visit the United States. He says, “It’s really rare to see people coming here to Utah. Big teams like Real Madrid came a while back, but it’s super rare.”
Real Salt Lake are calling tonight’s game a “once in a lifetime” chance for most of their players to test their mettle against some of the best players in the world. Team spokesman Trey Fitzgerald says the exposure the team will get will be massive. He says, “The big deal for us is that the game will be televised worldwide on either ESPN 2 or Manchester United TV. So, 180 plus countries. The eyes of the world will be on Utah.”
Fitzgerald says European and South American teams love coming to the US to expose their brand to a larger audience. However, more and more of them are looking to Salt Lake City as potential training spots. He says, “[Salt Lake City] is an hour away from every major US western hub. Then, the high altitude training is a big deal for these teams.”
