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America First Field

Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience

A snowy view of Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City after a heavy snowfall.

America First Field is a special stadium for soccer games in Sandy, Utah, in the United States. It is where the soccer teams Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals play their home games. The stadium opened on October 9, 2008, and can seat 20,213 people for soccer matches. It can also be made bigger for concerts or when there are more fans watching a game.

The stadium has been used for many important soccer events. It hosted the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, part of the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Finals, and the final of the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. It was also one of the stadiums used during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and for the final stages of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.

Originally called Rio Tinto Stadium, the name changed in September 2022 to America First Field after an agreement with America First Credit Union. The stadium can be expanded to hold more people when needed.

History

Before Real Salt Lake played at America First Field, many cities wanted to bring the team to their location. Real Salt Lake used to play at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium. Different places near Salt Lake City were considered for a new stadium, like the Utah State Fairgrounds and a small town called Vineyard.

America First Field sits at the base of the Wasatch Range

Finally, after many talks and some changes in how the money would be handled, an agreement was made. The team would build their new home in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The stadium was designed by Rossetti's office in California. It opened on October 9, 2008, with Real Salt Lake playing against the New York Red Bulls.

Later, the stadium was named after a big mining company, Rio Tinto. In 2025, the stadium was bought by Miller Sports + Entertainment, led by Gail Miller, as part of a large deal for the team.

Use

America First Field is a special stadium in Sandy, Utah, where soccer teams play. It is the home of the Utah Royals, and it is very popular for women's soccer games. In 2021, it was used by another team, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, because they could not play in Canada due to health rules.

The stadium is also liked by the United States men's national soccer team for playing matches. The first big game there was in 2009, and since then, many important games have been held there. It has hosted games for both the men's and women's national teams.

Besides soccer, the stadium is used for rugby matches and big concerts too.

DateHomeScoreAwayEventAttendance
November 8, 2008 United States43–9 Uruguay2008 end of year tests5,060
May 21, 2011Utah BYU14–21California Cal2011 Division 1-A Final11,000
May 20, 2012Utah BYU49–42Arkansas Arkansas State2012 Division 1-A Final8,733
May 3, 2014Utah BYU43–33California Cal2014 Varsity Cup Final10,172
May 2, 2015Utah BYU30–27California Cal2015 Varsity Cup Final9,033
March 30, 2018Utah Utah Warriors15–43Colorado Glendale Raptors2018 Major League Rugby pre-season9,186
September 17, 2023 United States24–21France Stade ToulousainFriendly
June 28, 2024Utah Utah Warriors24–31California FC Los Angeles2024 Major League Rugby season10,906
DateArtist(s)Opening act(s)TourTickets soldRevenueAdditional notes
May 9, 2009The EaglesMichelle BranchLong Road Out of Eden Tour18,853 / 19,984$2,183,969The first concert ever held at the stadium.
July 13, 2010Paul McCartney—Up and Coming Tour25,414 / 25,414$3,193,716This is the first time McCartney had ever done a show in the state of Utah.
September 22, 2010Kiss—The Hottest Show on Earth Tour——This was the band's first show in the state in seven years.
July 21, 2011JourneyForeigner
Night Ranger		Eclipse Tour11,510 / 13,972$737,642
July 28, 2012Neil Diamond————
July 27, 2013Jason AldeanThomas Rhett
Jake Owen		2013 Night Train Tour——

Attendance records (soccer)

Real Salt Lake games

As of May 8, 2026

Utah Royals games

As of May 23, 2025

International games

Men's

As of June 9, 2021

Women's

As of October 26, 2023

RankDateGameResultAttendanceNotes
1August 6, 2022vs United States LAFCL 1-421,810
2June 22, 2024vs United States LA GalaxyL 0–121,570
3July 3, 2024vs United States Houston Dynamo FCW 3–221,522
4April 22, 2026vs United States Inter Miami CFL 0–221,512
5August 26, 2023vs United States Houston Dynamo FCL 0–321,471
6September 1, 2018vs United States LA GalaxyW 6–221,363
7October 10, 2022vs United States Portland TimbersW 3–121,333
8October 7, 2023vs United States Sporting Kansas CityL 2–321,205
9August 24, 2024vs United States San Jose EarthquakesL 0–221,015
10September 19, 2015vs United States LA GalaxyW 3–021,004
11July 4, 2015vs United States Orlando City SCD 1–120,956
RankDateGameResultAttendance
1March 16, 2024vs United States Chicago Red StarsL 0–220,370
2April 18, 2025vs United States Chicago Red StarsW 1–017,085
3April 14, 2018vs United States Chicago Red StarsL 0–119,203
4April 20, 2019vs United States Washington SpiritW 1–018,015
5May 3, 2019vs United States Chicago Red StarsW 1–016,556
6July 19, 2019vs United States Portland Thorns FCD 2–215,931
7August 23, 2024vs United States Bay FCW 2–114,539
8September 8, 2018vs United States Chicago Red StarsW 2–111,851
9May 23, 2025vs United States Orlando PrideL 1–311,668
10September 6, 2019vs United States Portland Thorns FCW 1–010,897
RankDateGameResultAttendanceNotes
1September 4, 2015 Mexico vs  Trinidad and Tobago3–320,560Friendly match
2June 18, 2013 United States vs  Honduras1–020,2502014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round
3September 5, 2009 United States vs  El Salvador2–119,0662010 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF fourth round
4June 9, 2021 United States vs  Costa Rica4–019,007Friendly match
5July 13, 2013 United States vs  Cuba4–117,5972013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C
 Costa Rica vs  Belize1–0
6June 3, 2017 United States vs  Venezuela1–117,315Friendly match
RankDateGameResultAttendanceNotes
1June 30, 2012 United States vs  Canada2–116,805Friendly match
2June 28, 2022 United States vs  Colombia2–016,077Friendly match
3October 19, 2016 United States vs  Switzerland4–014,336Friendly match
4June 7, 2018 United States vs  China1–013,230Friendly match
5October 26, 2023 United States vs  Colombia0–013,058Friendly match
6September 13, 2014 United States vs  Mexico8–08,849Friendly match
7March 31, 2010 United States vs  Mexico1–03,732Friendly match

Sponsorship

On September 20, 2008, it was announced that an international mining company named Rio Tinto would have the naming rights to the stadium. This company also owns the local Kennecott Utah Copper mining company and its Bingham Canyon Mine near the Salt Lake Valley. They signed a deal lasting 10 years, worth about $1.5 million to $2 million each year.

Images

A detailed relief map showing the geography of the United States, excluding Hawaii and Alaska.
A friendly baseball icon for sports activities.

Related articles

United States
Sandy, Utah
Real Salt Lake
United States women's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
California

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