Real Salt Lake To Allow 10,000 Fans Into Rio Tinto Stadium For Home Opener

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake will allow 10,000 fans into Rio Tinto Stadium for the home opener against Sporting Kansas City on May 1st, Interim President John Kimball announced on ESPN 700 radio this afternoon.

“We are very excited to announce that we are going to be opening our season opener on May 1st to 10,000 fans,” Kimball said. “We have been working very diligently with the Utah Department of Health, they’ve been fantastic to work with, and we are excited to follow all of the protocols and ensure that we have a safe event,” he added.

#RSL news from @spencechecketts
10k fans allowed to attend for the home opener.

— Spencer Warne (@Spenno_77) April 7, 2021

The news comes following a 2020 season that saw only 5,000 fans allowed into Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL was one of only a few clubs within MLS to allow any fans into their stadium.

Kimball also referenced that Utahns have been doing a fantastic job as it relates to getting vaccinated. He also mentioned that Rio Tinto Stadium being an “outdoor facility” helped when it came to agreeing on the number of 10,000 fans.

It is yet to be determined when Rio Tinto Stadium will be open for capacity. However, Kimball admitted that over the coming months he expects additional seating to become available.

Furthermore, RSL will be following the league protocol and therefore will not be allowing fans to eat or drink in their seats.  If you do order food or beverage you will be required to consume those in designated areas within the concourse. Masks must be worn at all times when inside the stadium, other than when you are consuming food or beverage.

RSL is currently in Tucson, Arizona putting their final preparations on the preseason. The club is expected to return on April 10th, two weeks prior to their first game of the regular season which will be played in Minnesota on April 24th.

All regular-season games will be available to stream via the KSL 5 TV app or on KSLSports.com.