Investment tycoon David Blitzer is reportedly in late-stage discussions to sell a controlling stake in North American soccer’s Real Salt Lake (RSL) – of the men’s MLS – and Utah Royals – of the women’s NWSL – to the Miller family, former owners of NBA basketball franchise Utah Jazz.
A source told news site Sportico and various other outlets that once the deal becomes official in April, the Miller family will become the majority owner of both RSL and the Royals, with Blitzer staying as a minority owner.
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According to the report, Blitzer approached the Miller family in the last few months to assess their interest in becoming the local majority owner of both soccer clubs. Blitzer and his business partner Ryan Smith, the billionaire businessman and owner of the Utah Jazz, co-own both clubs.
The source said that while most of the minority owners in both clubs plan to stay put, including investment firm Arctos Sports Partners, Smith will not be involved in the club going forward after the sale.
The Miller family sold its majority ownership of Utah Jazz to Smith’s Smith Entertainment Group (SEG) in October 2020, initially retaining a minority stake in the NBA franchise, but that was also bought by Smith a year later.
If Blitzer's sale of RSL is successful, it will be the second time the club’s ownership has changed hands since 2020.
The Miller family will become the fourth owner of the club since it was launched in 2004 by Dave Checketts, who oversaw the club’s initial nine years before selling to US magnate Dell Loy Hansen.
Hansen took charge of the club from 2013 to 2021 but was forced to put the club up for sale under duress after being accused of using racist language in the presence of team employees. MLS took over the sales process before it was finally sold to Blitzer and Smith.
That deal included RSL-affiliated properties, including the Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City, Zions Bank training center, and the RSL Academy.
Blitzer then secured the rights to launch an NWSL club, which became the Royals in 2024, after paying a discounted expansion fee.
The clubs were added to Blitzer’s investment and ownership portfolio that already included Crystal Palace of English soccer’s top-tier Premier League, FC Augsburg of German soccer’s Bundesliga, the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL), and Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Outside of sports, he is a senior executive at private equity firm Blackstone Group.
The MLS board of governors is scheduled to meet in April and could potentially review or approve a sale.
