Out of the world of professional basketball, the Miller family is turning its sights to pro soccer, with an eye also on Major League Baseball.
The Millers and Miller Sports & Entertainment recently completed the acquisition of controlling interest in RSL Football Holdings (the Club), which includes Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer and the Utah Royals FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, along with the Real Monarchs of MLS NEXT Pro and the RSL Academy. The deal also includes America First Field, Zions Bank Stadium and Zions Bank Training Center.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but The Athletic pegged the deal at $600 million.
Global sports entrepreneur David Blitzer and Ryan Smith acquired the RSL companies in January 2022 and Blitzer will remain as their second-largest shareholder. As part of the changes, Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club, sold his minority interest in RSL and the Royals.
“We are honored to join the Real Salt Lake Club and invest in the highest levels of men’s and women’s soccer in both RSL and the Royals,” said Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Co. “We are grateful for David Blitzer’s trust, and I am confident our combined experience in sports leadership will elevate soccer within Utah and support the Club’s goal of winning championships.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Miller family into the club,” Blitzer said. “We are aligned in our values and commitment to building a great culture and championship-level teams. Our sports teams are best when we have a strong, local partner, and Miller Sports & Entertainment will truly enable Real Salt Lake Holdings to accomplish our visionary goals. I’ve loved my experience in Utah, and this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our strong fanbase and loyal soccer supporters.”
Steve Miller, chairman of the Larry H. Miller Co. board of directors, will serve as chairman and governor for RSL, with Blitzer serving as alternate governor. Steve Miller will also serve as chairman and governor for the Utah Royals FC, with Starks serving as the alternate governor.
“Our family is excited to join Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals,” Steve Miller said. “We love the growth of soccer as a family-friendly and unifying experience in our state. We are grateful to partner with David Blitzer and the other dedicated investors in building these strong teams.”
The Miller family and MSE have been involved in Utah sports for more than four decades. MSE manages and operates the Salt Lake Bees, the Triple A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels; The Ballpark at America First Square; and Megaplex theaters. The Millers owned the Utah Jazz from 1985 to 2020. The Larry H. Miller Co. is part of a group called Big League Utah hoping to land a Major League Baseball team for Salt Lake City, although MLB is years away from expansion and existing teams with stadium issues are working to get them resolved.
In a statement to a local media outlet, Smith said he wants to focus on the Jazz and the Utah Hockey Club.
“With so much growth on the horizon for Smith Entertainment Group — from enhancing the success of our major sports franchises with the Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club and supporting the reimagination of downtown Salt Lake City, to running the nation’s largest youth basketball program and recently launching a youth hockey program — now is the right time to tighten our focus on the NBA, NHL and other areas where we can make the biggest impact on our state,” he said.
A tech entrepreneur, Smith bought control of the Jazz in 2020 in a deal valued at $1.66 billion. He bought hockey’s Arizona Coyotes last year and moved the team to Salt Lake City. It has operated under the Utah Hockey Club name since the move but is expected to announce a new name soon.
Blitzer’s sports involvement is broad and deep. He is the founder and managing partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which includes in its portfolio the New Jersey Devils of the NHL; the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey; the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA; and the Penn Medicine 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. HBSE properties include investments in several sports. Blitzer recently became the first person to hold team equity in the five major sports leagues of North America: the NBA, NHL, NFL, MLS and MLB. Bolt Ventures, which serves as the Blitzer family-office, also manages a portfolio focused on other sports, media and technology assets.
Financing for the RSL/Monarchs transaction was provided by J.P. Morgan and Zions Bank. The Larry H. Miller Co. was advised by Katten Muchin Rosenman, York Howell and Holland & Hart. Bolt Ventures was advised by Morgan Lewis. Clean Sheet Capital LLC, represented by its founder, Nishant Tella, served as the principal advisor to Bolt Ventures on the transaction.
“The future of Real Salt Lake is in great hands with the Miller organization and David Blitzer,” said Don Garber, MLS commissioner. “The Millers have a longstanding commitment to community, youth sports and sound business operations, and we have a proven history with David, one of the most accomplished sports owners in the world. Together, this group is perfectly positioned to strengthen the club and grow soccer in Utah and the region.”
“This powerful partnership between the Miller family and David Blitzer will elevate women’s soccer in Utah and continue to build fandom for the Royals FC,” said Jessica Berman, NWSL commissioner. “Miller Sports & Entertainment has consistently demonstrated commitment to building sport and community both on and off the pitch — aligning with our values at the NWSL — and we welcome this new ownership group to the league.”
MSE announced that it will partner with Unrivaled Sports, a Blitzer-backed network of youth sports venues and programming that is led by CEO and Chairman Andrew Campion, an RSL Club investor. More than 190,000 Utah youth participate in soccer, baseball and basketball. RSL’s Junior Recreation Program involves nearly 100,000 active youth players in partnership with Utah Youth Soccer Association.
“Our family’s investment in and commitment to youth sports cannot be overstated,” said Steve Miller. “We remain grateful to promote health and wellness and the value of participating in sports for the rising generation.”
In addition to sports, the Larry H. Miller Co. is involved in businesses, community-building and philanthropy and oversees operations in real estate, health care, sports and entertainment, and investments.
Among changes soccer fans might see include a renovation of America First Field and the addition of restaurants, entertainment activities and other developments nearby. Several top-level professional franchises have been working in recent years to make their stadium areas year-round destinations by making them lively — and lucrative — during days and seasons without games.
The Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman occupies 42 acres and includes five grass fields, two indoor turf fields, a residential dormitory, and the 5,000-seat Zions Bank Stadium.