January 13 – The sale of MLS side Real Salt Lake has been taken over by the league itself after current owner after owner Dell Loy Hansen failed to complete a deal by a January 8 deadline.
In August, it was reported that Hansen was looking $500 million for the ownership group that held both the Real Salt Lake franchise and the Utah Royals FC that plays in the women’s NWSL. Since then Utah Royals FC has been sold to investors in Kansas City.
Estimates now value the franchise at between $350-400 million. Ryan Smith, owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz is reportedly interested in buying the team but was unwilling to deal with Hansen.
During MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s State of the Game address in December, he confirmed the “MLS is prepared to take over the sales process of Real Salt Lake and Utah Soccer Holdings.”
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