Even here the discussion is 10% “who will be the owner” and 90% “the name sux change it to something cooler”. We blow.
If there is a name change, and I'm 100000000000000000000000% against a name change, it can only get worse. It will end up being something incredibly ridiculous like Highlanders or Highlanderzz or something else so sophomoric and utah high school mascot-ish I won't be able to take it. If they changed the name to Highlanders I doubt I could be a fan. I think I can understand why many might not like Real Salt Lake but most of those are tight pants posers anyway. ******** them. I think that a lot of the grief surrounding the name comes from inside the house/state. Utah and it's fandom is notorious for having a chip on their shoulder about not measuring up and being a "small market" team/state etc. The Jazz, Cougars, Utes, you name it, they all suffer from this ailment. The Jazz have been here since 1979 and they still have to put up with BS about their name, oxymoronic or not, it's undeserved. When it comes to Real Salt Lake I say ******** them all. Keep the name, refresh and update the brand and it will hep to reinvigorate the casual fans that have gone cold to the team for myriad reasons. Re-name and you run the risk of losing fans that have already left and fans that haven't. Renaming will not bring more fans back and will only exacerbate the current failure and stature of the team with the community.
The Athletic published a Q&A with KB. Some really good stuff in there, overall. Kamrani asked KB his thoughts on a new ownership. KB didn't hold much back. Some of the best parts of his quotes: On how RSL can get back to the "top": "I think, hopefully, we're going to hear some really good news in terms of an owner. When that was talked about earlier this year, there was a lot of excitement going around of what can really be, and then it got a little quiet. Maybe that will change soon. I really feel that if we get a good owner, an owner who is ready to get on board and compete with these other teams, we can get right back up there. Nothing is guaranteed. Getting a new owner doesn't mean you'll win anything, but a new owner will put us on an even playing field with these other teams... Hopefully it happens sooner or later" On qualities desired in the next owner: "...making decisions for the betterment of the players and the team rather than just 'is this the cheapest' or 'What is going to cost here or there'... It's just tough when you don't feel the support from the top.. What Dave Checketts did...he'd have us up to his ranch before the season started so everybody could meet everyone. Those are just the little things..."
RSL = Ryan Smith Loyalists ? Ryan Smith Legit ? Ryan Smith Lions ? I don’t know, something that just popped into my head.
https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2020/12/25/ryan-smith-still-running/ I don't like the sound of an "international group" that already owns soccer properties. If I had to guess, though, such a group probably wouldnt want to pay the ask for an MLS team when teams in similar-level leagues are so much cheaper. Hold out hope for Smith, I guess.
Not at all against the international group idea. Perhaps such a group would have better access to signing some quality foreign players.
For a foreign group, I imagine the academy set-up would be the really attractive piece. It really is world class.
Lived through the "international group" takeover at Milan. The capital was super necessary, but it was far from a perfect marriage. The irony is that an American group (Elliott Management) took over now and seems to have figured it out. At least a lot better than the China group's approach. Speaking of which, would the Elliott Management group be interested in an MLS team?
The worst thing that could happen, other than an entity wanting to move the franchise, would be for a Chinese group to take over.
I very seriously doubt MLS would let it fly. Way too much risk involved for them. If the options are keep in SLC with a Chinese investment group or move to another city in the US with non-Chinese investment... well I think that puts us out a team
Maybe this could be this could be the "international ownership group". What's old is new again: This morning we announced that ALK Capital has completed its investment in the club.You can watch the full interview with new Chairman, Alan Pace, over on Clarets+ for free 👇https://t.co/POJBAqwgIh pic.twitter.com/AdTI4Fs59a— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) December 31, 2020 If you are not familiar, Pace was an associate of Checketts and was President of RSL for a time in the early years. https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/alk-burnley-takeover-alan-pace-18986659 I'm not sure this is the case. Sure, DLH got interested in the media side when he took over ownership of RSL (including ESPN 700), however, when he established Broadway Media (I believe acquiring Simmons Media), and with ownership of the studios downtown his commitment to the industry went way beyond ESPN 700 and the RSL tie-in. I have no clue of the decision-making there, but I'm assuming due to economies of scale it might be more cost-effective to have a group of stations rather than an individual. If you've been to Broadway Media you'll see so much infrastructure (and support personnel) that's shared among all of the stations. I think X96 is the crown jewel of his radio properties and ESPN 700 is more of a bit player. Can't imagine the RSL situation would totally drive his decision relative to his investment in an entirely separate industry. Maybe he'd consider divesting ESPN 700 separately?
I posted a reference to this in the “Other Leagues” thread. I wouldn’t be against Pace & Co coming in.
4 days left. There was a Chris Kamrani interview on ESPN 700 that seemed to suggest that there was a bit of interest just before Christmas but that it didn't mature and that the teams sale will most likely be in the hands of the league.