America First Field

America First Field
America First Field (then Rio Tinto Stadium), March 4, 2017
America First Field is located in Utah
America First Field
America First Field
Location in Utah
America First Field is located in the United States
America First Field
America First Field
Location in the United States
Former namesRio Tinto Stadium (2008–2022)
Address9256 South State Street
LocationSandy, Utah, U.S.
Coordinates40°34′58″N 111°53′36″W / 40.5829°N 111.8934°W / 40.5829; -111.8934
Elevation4,450 feet above sea level
Public transit TRAX Light Rail
 701  Blue Line
at Sandy Expo
Owner
OperatorReal Salt Lake
Capacity20,213[1]
Field size120 × 75 yards[2]
SurfaceKentucky Bluegrass
Construction
Broke groundAugust 12, 2006
OpenedOctober 9, 2008
Construction cost$110 million[3]
($156 million in 2023 dollars[4])
ArchitectRossetti Architects
Project managerICON Venue Group[5]
Structural engineerMartin & Associates[6]
Services engineerM-E Engineers, Inc.[6]
General contractorLayton-Turner Joint Venture[6]
Tenants
Real Salt Lake (MLS) (2008–present)
Utah Royals (NWSL) (2018–2020, 2024–present)

America First Field (formerly Rio Tinto Stadium and referred to as The RioT) is an American soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah, that serves as home stadium for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake and National Women's Soccer League club Utah Royals. The stadium opened on October 9, 2008, and seats 20,213 for soccer, but can be expanded to over 25,000 for concerts.[3]

The stadium hosted the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, the second leg of the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Finals, and the final of the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It was also a host stadium during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and a host for final stages of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.

Rio Tinto's sponsorship of the stadium was set to expire in December of 2020 but retained its branding through 2021. Real Salt Lake sought a ten-year commitment from its next stadium naming rights partner.[7] In September 2022, RSL announced a naming rights agreement with America First Credit Union with the stadium renamed America First Field.[8]

  1. ^ "Real Salt Lake 2012 Media Guide" (PDF). Major League Soccer. March 5, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ a b "Rio Tinto Stadium – Stadium Facts". Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  4. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Rio Tinto Stadium". iconvenue.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "McGraw-Hill Construction - Intermountain Construction - Real Salt Lake Rio Tinto Stadium". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  7. ^ "Real Salt Lake hire Playfly as club seeks stadium naming rights partner". Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "America First Field is New Name for Real Salt Lake's Home | Real Salt Lake".