The Utah Royals are returning to the NWSL in 2024, the club and league announced Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Real Salt Lake owners Ryan Smith and David Blitzer will be part of the new Royals ownership structure, via Smith Entertainment Group (which includes the Utah Jazz and RSL, among other properties) and Global Football Holdings (Blizer’s investment group, which has stakes in the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Cleveland Guardians and multiple European soccer clubs). Blitzer will serve as the team’s primary representative on the NWSL’s board of governors.
- The Royals will also have additional investment from 42 Futbol Group, made up of five individuals largely from the business sector. Among them are Jessica Gelman, CEO of Kraft Analytics Group — who will be the team’s alternate on the NWSL board — 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and Netflix vice president of studio operations Amy Reinhard.
- Utah named Michelle Hyncik as the Royals’ president, shifting over from her role as RSL’s general counsel. Hyncik has been working on the return of the Royals for months, and before her time at RSL, she spent five years at MLS as senior legal counsel.
- The team will again play at RSL’s home stadium. The first version of the…
