Utah Royals
FoundedNovember 16, 2017 (2017-11-16), as Utah Royals FC
StadiumAmerica First Field,
Sandy, Utah
Capacity20,213
OwnersDavid Blitzer
Ryan Smith
PresidentMichelle Hyncik
Head coachAmy Rodriguez
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
2020Regular season: Canceled
Playoffs: Canceled
Challenge Cup: Quarter-finals
Fall Series: 9th of 9
WebsiteClub website

The Utah Royals (formerly Utah Royals FC) are an American women's professional soccer club based in Salt Lake City. Established on November 16, 2017, as an expansion club, the Royals played its first stint in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) from 2018 to 2020.

In December 2020, the NWSL announced that the Royals would cease operations and their player-related assets transferred to the expansion Kansas City NWSL team, now known as the Kansas City Current.[1] Real Salt Lake owners David Blitzer and Ryan Smith reestablished the Royals in 2023, with play to resume in 2024.[2][3]

History

Establishment

On November 16, 2017, Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer announced that it had acquired a franchise in the National Women's Soccer League.[4] On November 20, 2017, the league announced that FC Kansas City of the National Women's Soccer League would fold their club, and the team's player contracts, draft picks, and other rights would be transferred to the new Salt Lake City club.[5] As of August 2017, Utah's six NCAA Division I women's soccer teams outnumbered the men's,[6][7] a seventh women's soccer school moved from Division II to Division I in 2020,[8] and the state has the highest rate of girls' high school soccer players recruited by Division I colleges.[9] Attendance at Division I women's soccer games in Utah is among the highest in the NCAA.[9] The decision to bring a NWSL team to Utah was based on the established interest in men's soccer in the state as well as Dell Loy Hansen's gut feeling and longtime interest in a team.[9]

The new Salt Lake City team announced its hiring of former Seattle Reign FC coach Laura Harvey as its inaugural head coach on November 27, 2017.[10]

Inaugural season

Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir scored the first goal in franchise history on March 24, 2018 in the third minute of the club's inaugural match against Orlando Pride in Orlando.[11] 18,500 tickets were sold ahead of their first home match (with only club seats and standing-only tickets remaining).[12] Official attendance the day of the match, in which they played the Chicago Red Stars, was reported as 19,2023.[13]

Colors and badge

Historical badges
2018–20 (primary)

The team was officially launched on December 1, 2017 with the announcements of its name, branding, season tickets, and social media.[14] The badge features a gold Lioness head and “Claret Red”, “Cobalt Blue” and “Victory Gold” colors. Two stylized balls surround the name “UTAH ROYALS FC” in the lower half of the badge which represent the team's connection to the organization's MLS and United Soccer League teams.[15] Rio Tinto Stadium, now known as America First Field, was named as the team's playing ground.[16] By the end of December 2017 over 2,000 season tickets had been sold.[17] By early April 2018, the number of season tickets sold had increased to 5,000.[18]

Sponsorship

In February 2018, the Royals announced a three-year multimillion-dollar deal with Conservice, a utility company based in Logan, Utah.[19] The company's logo is featured on the front of the team's jerseys.[20] Utah announced a multi-year partnership deal with Young Living Essential Oils on April 2, 2019. The Young Living partnership will include an original video series called ‘Rise up to Royalty’ which profiles URFC players personal lives. This 12-episode series, will run throughout the course of the 2019 season.[21]

Stadium

Utah Royals FC play at America First Field (known before September 2022 as Rio Tinto Stadium), located 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City in Sandy, Utah, as the men's team, Real Salt Lake, does.[14] America First Field is a soccer-specific stadium which opened on October 9, 2008.[22] The pitch features Kentucky Bluegrass[23] and is 120 × 75 yards.[24] The stadiums seats 20,213 for soccer matches.[24]

Players and staff

Current squad

As of January 5, 2024[25]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW United States USA Hannah Betfort
— MF United States USA Mikayla Cluff
— DF United States USA Kate Del Fava
— DF United States USA Imani Dorsey
— DF Netherlands NED Dana Foederer
— MF United States USA Emily Gray
— GK United States USA Mandy Haught
— DF United States USA Addisyn Merrick
— FW United States USA Paige Monaghan
— GK United States USA Carly Nelson
— MF Sweden SWE Agnes Nyberg
— FW Nigeria NGA Ifeoma Onumonu
— DF United States USA Madison Pogarch
— DF United States USA Kaleigh Riehl
— MF United States USA Frankie Tagliaferri
— FW United States USA Cameron Tucker
— FW United States USA Michele Vasconcelos

Technical staff

As of July 18, 2023

Records

Season-by-season

As of October 23, 2023
Season NWSL Playoffs Top scorer
P W D L GF GA Pts. Pos. Player Goals
2018 249872223355th Did not qualify United States Katie Stengel 6
2019 24104102525346th Did not qualify United States Amy Rodriguez 9
2020
Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
 United States Tziarra King
United States Amy Rodriguez[lower-alpha 1]		 2
2024 0000000

Head coaches' records

Name Nation Tenure P W D L GF GA Win%
Laura Harvey England ENGDecember 1, 2017 – January 6, 2020 47 18 12 17 45 47 038.30
Scott Parkinson (interim) England ENGJanuary 6, 2020 – February 7, 2020 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—
Craig Harrington England ENGFebruary 7, 2020 – September 20, 2020 5 1 2 2 4 5 020.00
Amy LePeilbet (interim) United States USASeptember 20, 2020 – December 7, 2020 4 0 2 2 3 8 000.00
Amy Rodriguez United States USAApril 20, 2023 – present 0 0 0 0 0 0 !—

Team records

As of October 17, 2020.[28]
Top goalscorers
Player Goals scored
Name Nat. Pos. Royals career NWSL Playoffs Cup Other Total
Amy Rodriguez United States USAFW 2018–2020 1401116
Christen Press United States USAFW 2018–2020 1000010
Katie Stengel United States USAFW 2018–2019 80008
Most appearances
Player Appearances
Name Nat. Pos. Royals career NWSL Playoffs Cup Other Total
Gunny Jónsdóttir Iceland ISLMF 2018–2020 4804052
Amy Rodriguez United States USAFW 2018–2020 4304451
Rachel Corsie Scotland SCODF 2018–2020 4305048
Katie Stengel United States USAFW 2018–2019 4700047
Katie Bowen New Zealand NZLDF 2018–2020 3805447
Lo'eau LaBonta United States USAMF 2018–2020 3805447
Desiree Scott Canada CANMF 2018–2020 3800038
Becky Sauerbrunn United States USADF 2018–2019 3400034
Nicole Barnhart United States USAGK 2018–2020 3201033
Becca Moros United States USADF 2018–2019 3000030

Broadcasting

The Utah Royals announced that all matches in 2018, except for their six NWSL Game of the Week appearances on Lifetime, would be broadcast locally on KMYU My Utah TV and streamed on the KSL app, as an extension of the broadcast rights agreements with Sinclair Broadcast Group and KSL with Real Salt Lake.[29] KALL ESPN 700 would carry the majority of Royals games on local radio – as it does for Real Salt Lake and Real Monarchs.[29] On August 17, 2018, KSL announced that Utah Royals games would no longer be broadcast on television or radio, but they would continue to be streamed on the KSL website and app.[30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021". NWSL. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Utah Soccer LLC Transfers Ownership of Utah Royals FC to Group in Kansas City, Kansas". Real Salt Lake. December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Returning to NWSL, Utah Royals bring same name but plenty of changes".
  4. ↑ Torres, Maria (November 16, 2017). "Announcement of new team in Salt Lake means women's pro soccer is likely done in KC". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  5. ↑ Torres, Maria (November 20, 2017). "FC Kansas City women's soccer team folds, NWSL sends players to Salt Lake City". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Utah's only Division 1 men's soccer program taking shape at UVU | KSL.com". Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ Coon, John (July 12, 2008). "De-flated: With soccer popular among boys, why only one NCAA-sanctioned men's team in Utah?". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Dixie State University to Join WAC in 2020-21" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 11, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2023. NB: Dixie State University changed its name to Utah Tech University in 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 "Can the new women's pro soccer team generate a following in Utah?". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ Lee, Maddie (November 27, 2017). "Real Salt Lake hires Laura Harvey to coach new women's soccer team". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Iceland international who scored the first goal in Utah Royals history is making an immediate impact in the NWSL". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Utah Royals sell out Rio Tinto Stadium for their inaugural home game against the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ Ltd, Simplestream. "Utah Royals FC vs. Chicago Red Stars". www.nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Utah Royals FC unveils name, identity for 2018 NWSL season". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Newest NWSL club Utah Royals FC unveils crest, social media presence – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Utah Royals: Logo, season ticket prices announced". RSL Soapbox. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Utah Royals are off to a fast start at the box office". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  18. ↑ McDonald, Ryan (April 11, 2018). "A look at the fans who will be backing Utah Royals FC as its home debut draws near". DeseretNews.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Utah Royals land Conservice as jersey sponsor". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Utah Royals ink jersey deal with Utah company Conservice; release secondary kit". RSL Soapbox. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  21. ↑ "URFC Announces Multi-Year Deal With Young Living Essential Oils". April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  22. ↑ "RSL confirms Oct. 9 stadium opening". The Salt Lake Tribune. August 5, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Real Salt Lake: Long-awaited field renovation underway at Rio Tinto Stadium". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  24. 1 2 "Rio Tinto Stadium | Sandy, UT 84070 | Salt Lake City Sports". Visit Salt Lake. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Utah Royals". Utah Royals. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Utah Royals name Kelly Cousins, former Reading Women's manager, as first sporting director". The Athletic. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  27. ↑ Carlisle, Jeff (April 19, 2023). "Utah appoint ex-USWNT star Rodriguez as coach". ESPN. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Utah Royals FC Stats and History". FBref. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Utah Royals FC Unveils Inaugural Season Broadcast Options". March 22, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Broadcast changes coming for Utah Royals FC's final 3 matches". August 17, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
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