America First Field is the soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah, that has served as the home of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake since it opened on October 9, 2008. Built for about $110 million and designed by Rossetti Architects, the venue sits in the Salt Lake Valley at roughly 4,450 feet of elevation, giving visiting teams an added conditioning challenge.
Known as Rio Tinto Stadium for its first 14 years, the venue took its current name in September 2022 after America First Credit Union acquired the naming rights. Beyond MLS play, it has hosted the NWSL’s Utah Royals, the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, matches during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and numerous U.S. men’s and women’s national team games.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Real Salt Lake (MLS), Utah Royals (NWSL)
- Location: Sandy, Utah
- Opened: October 9, 2008
- Capacity: About 20,213 for soccer (expandable past 25,000 for concerts)
- Playing Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass natural grass
- Notable Fact: Hosted the 2009 MLS All-Star Game and matches in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup
A Soccer-First Design
Unlike many MLS venues built inside repurposed football stadiums, America First Field was constructed specifically for soccer, giving fans close sightlines on all sides of the pitch. The intimate, roughly 20,000-seat bowl has made it one of the more atmospheric venues in MLS, especially when Real Salt Lake’s supporters’ sections are at full volume.
The stadium’s high-altitude setting in the Salt Lake Valley is often cited as a home-field advantage for Real Salt Lake, with opposing players needing time to adjust to the thinner air during matches.
From Rio Tinto to America First
The venue carried the Rio Tinto Stadium name from its 2008 opening until September 2022, when America First Credit Union struck a new naming-rights deal with the club. The NWSL’s Utah Royals also share the stadium, having played there from 2018 to 2020 before the franchise ceased operations; a new Utah Royals club returned to the league and to America First Field starting with the 2024 season.
Explore more: Explore more iconic stadiums.
For upper-deck seats. Watch line play at the stadium, or the far side of the park from the top of a lift hill.
Sherpa-lined and windproof, with a waterproof back for wet bleachers. Folds into its own pouch.
For late-season football, outdoor hockey and October park nights. Shake, pocket, and stay warm for hours.
America First Field FAQs
What was America First Field called before?
It opened in 2008 as Rio Tinto Stadium and kept that name until September 2022, when it was renamed America First Field under a new naming-rights deal.
Who plays at America First Field?
Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer has played there since it opened in 2008. The NWSL’s Utah Royals played there from 2018 to 2020, and a relaunched Utah Royals franchise returned to the stadium starting in 2024.
How many people does America First Field hold?
It seats about 20,213 for soccer matches, with capacity expandable to more than 25,000 for concerts and other events.
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Photo: PeteysHead / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.