Real Salt Lake breaks ground on new training facility, youth academy

Real Salt Lake broke ground on a $50-million multi-purpose training facility and charter school for Academy players on Tuesday in Herriman, Utah.

The facility will be built on a 57-acre plot which will include eight soccer fields to be used by the Real Salt Lake MLS squad, the minor league affiliate Real Monarchs and the RSL Academy U-16 and U-18 sides. Alongside the fields will be a 250-student charter school, including about 40 RSL Academy players at any given time.

The project is being primarily funded by Real Salt Lake owner and real estate mogul Dell Loy Hansen, along with contributions from the city of Herriman. According to a report by the Salt Lake Tribune, Herriman spent around $5.6 million to acquire 30.1 acres of land from a Community Development Agency to assist in the project.

Also according to the Tribune, RSL officials said they could maintain their academy presence in Arizona at the Grande Sports Academy on some level, but will send between 6-12 players per year to the new facility.