HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, March 23, 2023) – Real Monarchsare set to kick off its second season in MLS NEXT PRO thisFriday, March 24 at 8:00 p.m. MDTagainst Minnesota United 2 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. Gates open one-hour in advance of the match, fans are welcome to arrive early to enjoy the pre-game block party and festivities prior to first-touch.
Friday's matchup is just the third time ever that Real Monarchs and Minnesota United FC 2 have faced one another, as MNUFC 2 was recently founded in December of 2021 to compete exclusively in MLS NEXT Pro. Minnesota United 2 has had a leg up against the Real Monarchs in previous competitions, winning both their games against the Club. On April 4, 2022, Real Monarchs and Minnesota United 2 found themselves in a high-scoring competitive affair that concluded in a 3-2 victory for Minnesota. The two teams met again on August 21 when Minnesota came back from a one-goal deficit to tie the game 1-1, eventually earning the extra point in the standings on kicks from the penalty spot.
Real Monarchs have been in preparation for their second season in MLS NEXT Pro, having begun preseason training on February 1st. The team finished the 2022 season with an eight-game unbeaten streak at home. Real Monarchs remain under the leadership of Head Coach Jamison Olave, and like last season will be empowered by one of the league’s youngest rosters, by average age, in the entire league.
In the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro regular season, Real Monarchs play a well-balanced schedule, never playing more than two consecutive games either on the road or in the Club’s home venue, Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. The League’s second season will feature 27 clubs, including seven new MLS affiliates. Joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2023 will be Atlanta United 2, Austin FC II, Crown Legacy FC (Charlotte FC), Huntsville City FC (Nashville SC), LA Galaxy II, Los Angeles Football Club 2 and New York Red Bulls II. Expansion in MLS NEXT Pro means the Real Monarchs will play home and away matches against fellow Western Conference teams Minnesota, Houston, San Jose, Colorado, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Austin, Kansas City, Tacoma, Portland, North Texas, Vancouver, and St. Louis. Please visit wwwrealmonarchs.com for the complete 28-game slate, or mlsnextpro.com for the entire League calendar covering each of the individual team’s schedules.
The majority of regular season matches this season, plus all Decision Day matches, playoffs matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup, will be available to watch live and on-demand on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. The remainder of regular season matches will stream live on mlsnextpro.com. MLS Season Pass is the subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer that is home to all MLS and Leagues Cup matches and hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches.
Real Monarchs season ticket sales for the 2023 season are ongoing, with prices starting at $4.00 per seat, per game; please visit wwwrealmonarchs.com for more details and information. Additionally, fans and supporters can purchase Real Monarchs merchandise from kiosks on the concourse during Monarchs home games, at the Team Store at America First Field, and online via the RSL Team Store at shop.RSL.com.
2023 Real Monarchs Full-Season Ticket Packages now on sale at www.RSL.com or by calling 844.Real.Tix
