HERRIMAN, UTAH (Wednesday, April 14, 2021) – In a historic announcement, Real Salt Lake has agreed to a seven-year partnership with the University of Utah Health to become the exclusive and official healthcare partner for Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs and the RSL Youth Development Academy. The agreement will provide players and staff access to world-class sports medicine and the state’s top clinical care while highlighting the club’s desire for continued community outreach and further cultivation of local partnerships.
"This partnership with University of Utah Health is monumental for our club," Interim President John Kimball said. "As a club we have been working on this deal for some time and this announcement points to a bright future at Real Salt Lake. University of Utah Health is a leader in their field, providing ground-breaking medical care for our state and have established themselves as an integral part of the community. It is an honor to have them as part of our team."
“We are thrilled to continue the tradition of providing quality medical care for our elite athletes in the state of Utah. As the trusted Health organization in the state, we are proud to serve our community at all levels,” said Dan Lundergan, interim CEO of University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics. “We look forward to our partnership with the RSL franchise, and thank them for trusting us to provide the quality, specialized, care that allows their players to perform at elite levels.”
“This partnership with University of Utah Health is massive for our team, not only are they one of the best sports medicine programs in the region, but they are one of the top hospital systems in the country, and we are thrilled to be able to have them a part of the Real Salt Lake organization,” Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Rob Zarkos said.
“As the official health care provider, University of Utah Health is excited to be able to deliver the highest level of health care, injury prevention and sports performance using both excellence in research and clinical care for the highest level of athletes,” said Travis Maak, MD, orthopaedic surgeon and associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at University of Utah Health. “This partnership allows us to continue to deliver the level of care that athletes at all levels and the highest level have come to expect and deserve from U of U Health.”
University of Utah Health is recognized as one of the top medical systems in the country, with five hospitals, 12 community health care centers and over 1,700 physicians, they are the largest employer in the state of Utah. The hospital system is anchored and headquartered on the campus of the University of Utah is the only academic medical center in the region and is consistently ranked as the top program in the nation.
In addition to their partnership with RSL, University of Utah Health serves as the official health care provider for the Utah Jazz NBA franchise, the Salt Lake City Stars NBA G League team, the Salt Lake Bees minor league baseball team, Utah Olympic Park, Utah Olympic Oval, University of Utah Athletics and is designated as a Regional Medical Center to provide care for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Real Salt Lake will begin its 16th season in Major League Soccer on Saturday, April 24 at Minnesota United and will return for its home opener on Saturday, May 1 against Sporting Kansas City.
