SALT LAKE CITY - KZNS 1280 AM The Zone, "First with Sports" across Utah's Wasatch Front, Real Salt Lake's English-language radio flagship and the home of Utah's highest-rated sports radio programming, today announced that it will broadcast LIVE from The Home Depot Center the much-anticipated international friendly between Real Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy Monday, July 18 at 8:00 p.m. MT.
The voice of Real Salt Lake, 1280 program director Ryan Hatch, will provide the play-by-play action as David Beckham, Michael Owen, Luis Figo and "Los Galacticos" of Real Madrid face Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. RSL analyst Wayne Scholes provides the color commentary for the two-hour game broadcast, which will be supplemented by 15-minute pre- and post-game shows as well as live reports from The HDC, the cathedral of American soccer stadia, throughout the day.
"1280 The Zone and the Simmons Media Group obviously understand the value of high-level, professional soccer in this community, and their commitment to the growth of Major League Soccer in Utah has played a major role in helping us educate what Real Salt Lake is all about," said RSL General Manager Steve Pastorino. "The addition of this historic exhibition between a storied MLS club in Los Angeles and the world's most recognized and respected club to the nearly 40 games already on 1280 The Zone during our inaugural season will augment the growth, understanding and education for current and future soccer fans across the Wasatch Front."
Real Salt Lake and 1280 AM The Zone will provide live streaming of the Real Madrid-Los Angeles Galaxy friendly on both organization's official websites, www.RealSaltLake.com and www.1280thezone.com. Yesterday, 1280 aired Utah's only broadcast of RSL's inaugural Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup contest, and on Saturday will continue to provide live coverage of each of Real Salt Lake's MLS regular season contests, this time from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City at 6:00 p.m. MT against the 2004 MLS Western Conference Champion Kansas City Wizards.
"Our indoctrination into high-level, world-class soccer through Real Salt Lake and MLS during the past three months has been so exciting for our listeners and so successful that adding the Real Madrid-Los Angeles Galaxy exhibition to our air represented a special opportunity," said Steve Johnson, 1280 AM The Zone General Manager. "Something very special is happening with this sport and this team in our community, and we are excited to bring the passion and excitement that Real Salt Lake and Major League Soccer to audiences across Utah and across the world."
Hatch, Program Director for 1280 AM The Zone, can be heard Monday through Friday from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. during the "Hardball with Hatch and Hollywood" show, with co-host Dave Fox. In April 2002, Hatch was hired by Simmons Media as an afternoon talk show host on KZNS 1280 AM. "Hardball" is the No. 1-rated midday sports talk show in Utah.
Hatch, a regular guest on KUTV Ch. 2's "Talkin' Sports" program on Sunday nights, brings an energy and perspective that is unique to the Utah market, where he is known as one of the most passionate and knowledgeable sports voices. The Salt Lake native has also hosted numerous University of Utah, BYU and Utah Jazz post-game shows for years, bringing nearly a decade of sports radio experience to the RSL English-radio booth.
The Simmons Media Group, owner and operator of 1280 The Zone, is one of America's top performing media companies and has earned industry respect and admiration for its reputation of creating exceptional value for client partners, community causes, employee satisfaction, and shareholder value. Since 1977, Simmons has owned or operated radio stations, outdoor media, and associated companies in Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming, Texas, and Missouri. Simmons Radio Stations enjoy unique brand identity, developed through extensive local research to generate strong audience appeal and consumer response.
