HERRIMAN and OGDEN, Utah (July 9, 2025) – Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake and National Women’s Soccer League’s Utah Royals have named Weber State University as its exclusive educational partner.
Weber State, which was founded in 1889, aims to raise awareness of educational opportunities available at WSU via multiple digital, grassroots, and in-stadium efforts.
“For the past 136 years, Weber State has been a gem of higher education in our local community and across Utah," said WSU President Brad Mortensen. “We’ve had huge growth over the past few years, but there’s still room for more people to learn at WSU. That’s why we're excited to partner with Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals, who have forged strong ties with Utahns and reach so many different communities.”
On July 5, Real Salt Lake hosted “Weber State Title Night,” where hundreds of WSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni cheered on RSL in its 3-2 victory over St. Louis CITY SC followed by an Independence Day celebratory firework show.
Partnership efforts are focused on both the Sandy- and Herriman-based training and game event facilities, informing the public about educational opportunities available at Weber State. A dual-mission university, WSU offers associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate degrees, along with professional certificates.
“As a lifelong Utah resident, I’ve long appreciated the incredible community at Weber State, both on campus and in its alumni network,” said John Kimball, Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals Club President. “As our state grows, as industry expands, and as technology changes, Weber State’s approach to higher education and its innovation to enhance Utahns opportunities dovetail perfectly with our young and dynamic fan bases. We’re proud to collaborate across numerous platforms for the benefit of the community.”
Weber State has created an enhanced fan experience at select matches via interactive booths set up before kickoff, where fans can win WSU prizes.
“We’ve been so energized hearing stories from people whose lives were changed for the better because of their time at Weber State,” said Jessica Oyler, Vice President of Student Access & Success. “We’ve met so many RSL fans who are proud graduates of Weber State, and others who have children or relatives currently attending, which just proves what a perfect match this partnership is.”
Soccer fans can visit Weber State’s booth at games scheduled for July 12, July 26, Aug. 23, Sept. 13, Sept. 27, and Oct. 4. WSU will have a continued presence through the 2026 and 2027 season.
Author: Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu
Contact: Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu
Weber State University is renowned for student-focused teaching, personalized educational experiences and its transformative impacts in Utah and beyond. Weber State is the foremost provider of health professionals in Utah, and a strong academic partner for the aerospace and defense industries supporting Hill Air Force Base. WSU serves over 32,000 students and offers 225+ certificate and degree programs, from associate to doctorate. weber.edu/wsutoday
**ABOUT REAL SALT LAKE & UTAH ROYALS
**
In April 2025, Real Salt Lake and all related properties were acquired by The Larry H. Miller Company, a family investment firm built on the Miller family’s legacy of business leadership, community building, and philanthropic giving. The Larry H. Miller Company oversees the organization’s portfolio of business platforms and companies spanning real estate, healthcare, sports + entertainment, and investments. For more information, visit www.lhm.com.
In conjunction with global sports entrepreneur David Blitzer, who acquired the RSL compendium of companies in January 2022, Miller Sports + Entertainment (MSE) manages Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals FC, America First Field, and the Zions Bank Training Center, along with Megaplex, the Salt Lake Bees, The Ballpark at America First Square, and Big League Utah and its quest to bring a Major League Baseball team to Salt Lake City. Learn more at www.millerse.com.
The Miller family and its MSE business platform are pioneers of professional sports and entertainment in Utah and have a legacy of commitment to the community that spans more than four decades. MSE manages and operates the Salt Lake Bees (MiLB’s Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels), The Ballpark at America First Square and Megaplex theaters. Their experience includes long-term stewardship of professional sports franchises, such as the Utah Jazz from 1985–2020, and constructing and operating best-in-class venues, including the Delta Center and The Ballpark at America First Square. MSE regularly attracts and hosts prominent events such as the Olympic Winter Games, NBA All-Star Games, the Savannah Bananas, and Béisbol en Salt Lake.
Real Salt Lake commenced its 21st Major League Soccer season this February, its fourth full season under Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni, who led the Utah side on an interim basis for the final 100 days in 2021. RSL is the lone Western Conference side to have advanced to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the last four campaigns, amassing 14 postseason appearances in the last 17 years, as well as six occasions in the last seven seasons.
RSL's MLS Cup 2009 victory marked the state of Utah’s only major professional championship in nearly 40 years, the title preceding an historic run to the 2010/11 CONCACAF Champions League Final. Buoyed by a passionate base boasting several thousand season ticket holders and opening its permanent home in Sandy just over 16 years ago, since October, 2008, RSL’s 179-72-90 (W-L-T) mark at America First Field – home of the “RioT” Supporters Group umbrella – equates to a 1.84 points per game average and a 0.657 win pct, one of the truly amazing value proposition in North American sporting landscape today.
Beginning with the 2024 season, Real Salt Lake ownership brought the National Women’s Soccer League back to Utah, as Utah Royals FC returned. Led by Sporting Director Kelly Cousins and Head Coach Jimmy Coenraets, Utah Royals FC aims to seize upon the overall success of the NWSL and tremendous popularity of women’s soccer in Utah.
In 2015, the Club expanded its development pyramid with the addition of Real Monarchs. Since the 2022 season, Real Monarchs have competed in the “MLS NEXT Pro”, which connects youth academies in MLS NEXT to first teams in Major League Soccer. There are currently over 60 student athletes representing the RSL Academy’s U-16 and U-18 teams in MLS NEXT.
All teams call the expansive Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah their daily training home. The 42-acre campus includes five world-class grass fields, two indoor turf fields, a residential dormitory, and the 5,000-seat Zions Bank Stadium.
The RSL Community Foundation was established in 2016, created with the goals of being active in the community year-round, utilizing the popularity and reach of RSL, the Utah Royals, the Monarchs and the Academy in promoting health and wellness in children throughout the region, engaging supporters of soccer to raise funds and volunteer time for various local initiatives.
Additional “fast facts”
- WSU has 16 NCAA-sanctioned sports teams, including a women's soccer team
- The school competes in the Big Sky Conference
- In addition to its Ogden campus, WSU has a campus in Layton and centers in Farmington and Morgan
- WSU recently set a record for enrollment with more than 32,700 students
- Weber State is nationally recognized for its sustainability efforts, including reducing its consumption of electricity, natural gas, and water, while also reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 43% since 2007. The university is on track to become carbon neutral by 2040, 10 years ahead of schedule.
