How RSL is Celebrating Juneteenth 

In recognition of the official state and federal holiday, Real Salt Lake has announced the following initiative to celebrate, recognize and honor Juneteenth during the Club’s match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. MT.

As part of a league-wide initiative, the Real Salt Lake players will wear specialty warm up tops, as well as commemorative jerseys which will be auctioned off following the game. Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Project Success Coalition, the Club’s partner for all Juneteenth celebrations this year. Fans can purchase the warm up tops, as well as matching scarfs from the Real Salt Lake team store.

The numbers on the back of the player game-worn jerseys were designed by Judah “Tip” Middelton, a Black queer artist from Childersburg, Alabama. Judah, who now resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., created the numbers – a vibrant yellow, green, and red color palette, to represent the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people.

At the match itself the Black National Anthem (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”) will be played prior to the match, along with the National Anthem (“Star-Spangled Banner”). During the match the Club will honor members from Project Success Coalition, African Stars and Promise Center.

On June 19, Real Salt Lake and members of the RSL Academy will participate in the Juneteenth Festival in Ogden, Utah, where festivities are set to begin at 2:00 p.m. MT. Later in the evening RSL staff, and Leo the Lion will partner with the Millcreek Promise Program in partnership with Project Success, The Utah Black Artists Collective (UBLAC) and Nubian Storytellers of Utah Leadership (NSOUL) at SoulSkate, the first Annual Juneteenth Celebration and Skate Night at Millcreek Commons.