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SANDY — The Miller family is expanding its sports ownership portfolio five years after selling the Utah Jazz to Ryan Smith.
Miller Sports and Entertainment announced its acquisition Friday of the controlling interest in RSL Football Holdings, which runs both Real Salt Lake in MLS and Utah Royals FC in the NWSL.
The official announcement came during a press conference at America First Field that featured the commissioners from both leagues, along with Utah Governor Spencer Cox.
Former majority owner David Blitzer was also in attendance and will remain on as the second-largest owner behind the Millers, while Smith Entertainment Group will exit the soccer sphere.
"I'm very excited to work with everyone and continue to build on the successes of RSL and the Utah Royals, and ultimately bring championships to Utah," Blitzer said.
Smith congratulated Larry H. Miller Company co-founder Gail Miller on the purchase of the two soccer clubs in a statement Friday.
"We are glad that soccer is staying in Utah, and Gail Miller is an ideal local steward to lead Utah's professional soccer franchises moving forward," Smith said. "With so much growth on the horizon for Smith Entertainment Group ... now is the right time to tighten our focus on the NBA, NHL and other areas where we can make the biggest impact on our state, our community, and the world of sports."
The Millers maintained a smaller role in the Utah sports scene after its sale of the Jazz with continued stewardship over the Salt Lake Bees, which included moving the minor league side to a new ballpark in Daybreak.
ESPN reported in March that the Miller family was interested in purchasing RSL three years ago when Smith and Blitzer took over, and now they get their chance to run professional soccer in the state of Utah.
Steve Miller, chairman of the Larry H. Miller Company, will serve as chairman and governor for both clubs. Blitzer stays on as alternate governor for RSL and former Utah Jazz president and Larry H. Miller CEO Steve Starks will be the Royals' alternate governor.
"These clubs' values align so closely with our family's values and the way that we think about professional sports," Steve Miller said. "We love how soccer has grown here in Utah. We believe it's family-friendly, and it includes communities.
"We built our business headquarters right here in Sandy, not far from where we stand, and we look forward and are grateful for the opportunity to continue to invest in the state as well as in these strong teams."'
The Millers own the Jordan Commons business area across State Street from America First Field, which also includes the company's Megaplex Theaters offices. Starks committed to keeping the teams in Sandy and said there are plans to develop both the stadium and areas around it to enhance the gameday experience.
The Athletic reported the value of Friday's sale to the Millers at $600 million. Smith and Blitzer purchased RSL for approximately $400 million in January 2022 and brought the Royals back to Utah last year as an expansion team for a reported $2 million fee to the NWSL.
Though brief, the Smith-Blitzer ownership era included the two largest player purchases in RSL history in Andres Gomez and Chicho Arango, and the largest sale when Gomez was flipped to French club Rennes in August 2024.
The ownership group also invested heavily in the return of the Royals by building a new training and performance center for the NWSL side connected to RSL's facility in Herriman.
MLS commissioner Don Garber commented during the press conference that Friday's event was the largest club announcement he has attended in MLS and also the first event to feature both himself and NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman.
"The fact that we, together, can take this sport and combine the power of what makes sports so important and how it can enrich and improve lives," Garber said. "Particularly in a state like Utah that has such strong participation, speaks to the momentum and the vision and the opportunity that this sport, this club, and our sister club, the Royals, can have in just making our country a powerful soccer nation."
The ownership transition to the Millers comes at an interesting point in time, with the MLS transfer window closing on Wednesday, April 23, and reports claiming the club is pushing to bring in a proven striker for RSL before that deadline.
RSL and the Royals host a rare double-match weekend at America First Field this weekend, starting Friday at 7:30 p.m. MDT with the Royals facing the Chicago Stars and continuing Saturday with a match between RSL and Toronto FC, also at 7:30 p.m. MDT.
