When he first came up with the notion to bring a Major League Soccer club to Utah, the initial response that greeted Dave Checketts as he unfolded his plans was what he described as a "big yawn."
In the five years since Real Salt Lake begin its foray into professional soccer, those yawns have been replaced by a growing cadre of RSL fans devoted to the team and a league appreciative of what the team has contributed to its own growth.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber credited RSL with being a catalyst to the league's push into other markets in recent seasons.
"Without Dave Checketts and Real Salt Lake stepping into the fray in 2005, I don't believe we'd be sitting here looking at 18 teams in Major League Soccer by 2011," Garber said.
For his part, Checketts feels like RSL has made progress. But he also feels like there is much more the team can do and much more he wants to accomplish down the road.
"We've had an impact," Checketts said. "It's not what I've hoped for yet, because I have much bigger vision of how this all works."
Building Rio Tinto Stadium and playing host to the 2009 MLS All-Star Game within that venue are important pieces within that long-term picture. Because the game will be viewed in approximately 150 countries, Checketts sees it as a perfect opportunity to show off Utah and build up the RSL brand inside and outside of Utah.
"Those of us who live here and spend a lot of time here don't realize it -- this is an incredible place," Checketts said. "One of the most of the beautiful places, really, in the world. So I'm proud that it's going to be seen in so many places. It's another big step for us."
Hosting a game of this caliber continues Utah's recent tradition of serving as a home to major sporting events.
Salt Lake City, of course, served as the host city to the 2002 Winter Olympics. It was site of the NCAA men's basketball championship game in 1979 that pitted NBA legends Magic Johnson and Larry Birds against each other on a big stage for the first time. And the NBA Finals came calling in 1997 and 1998 when the Utah Jazz reached that stage in consecutive seasons.
Within the realm of soccer alone, Salt Lake City and RSL have brought in world-class soccer teams such as Real Madrid for exhibition matches and played host to U.S. World Cup qualifying matches.
"Salt Lake has always been good to us with the national team," Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan said. "I like the fans. They're savvy and knowledgeable."
Checketts believes soccer fans along the Wasatch Front play something of a symbiotic role with RSL. Their willingness to embrace the team helped it prosper amid a rough first few seasons and protracted stadium-funding battle. And RSL, in turn, gives the local community a legitimate outlet for their soccer passion.
"Soccer has been big here for a quite while," Checketts said. "So I don't think we can take much credit for that. But what I do think is happening now is we're giving the whole game credibility. And I hope we're giving the kids some hope that they might actually be able to play this sport and earn a living."
One major goal Checketts still aims to accomplish relates directly to those soccer-loving youth. Ever since touring soccer academies in Europe, the RSL owner has sought to duplicate them here on U.S. soil.
His plan to build an academy in Salt Lake City has not gotten off the ground yet. But Checketts is working toward getting a soccer academy from blueprint to reality. And he is hopeful other teams around the league will adopt similar plans in the near future as a means to develop a talent base for the league.
"It ought to be on the minds of every MLS owner and the commissioner," Checketts said. "We've got to find a way to move in that direction. I'm more convinced than ever -- after touring some of the best academies in the world."
John Coon is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
