From Deseret News archives:

A (somewhat) fond farewell — Real Salt Lake prepares for final Rice-Eccles game

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 12:16 a.m. MDT
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"No hard feelings to be leaving," added Rimando. "I think if we can continue our streak at home, there will be no hard feelings leaving at all. We are excited to get into that new stadium. Rice-Eccles has been home and has been great to RSL, but it is time to move on."

Kenny Cutler is one of the few remaining original team members from that first season, and he, too, has mixed feelings about the stadium on the hill.

"It's been our home, my home, for four years, so there are some definite emotions and feelings there," said Cutler. "To be moving into the new stadium is so exciting that we are thinking more about that than leaving Rice-Eccles. I feel like Rice-Eccles will always be a part of this team, since we started there. We still drive by it all the time and think about all the games.

"One of the best memories for me was in that first year we had a friendly against a Chilean club," continued Cutler. "It was one of my first times getting out on the field, and I scored a goal. Up to that point, I hadn't really had a chance with the first team, but that was when I think I showed I could play. I went on to start a lot of games that year and that was my moment."

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If Saturday's contest is the last soccer game ever hosted in Rice-Eccles, there are still plenty of great memories. In 2003, the team played host to an international friendly between the U.S. Women's National team and Ireland. It was a chance for Utahns to meet Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Brandy Chastain and Kristine Lilly as the Americans won 5-0. In 2005, the Men's National Team played host to Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier as Landon Dovovan, DeMarcus Beasley and Kasey Keller helped the U.S. to a 3-0 win.

One of the world's most famous soccer clubs paid a visit to the stadium in 2006 as Real Salt Lake hosted Real Madrid. Players such as Ruud VanNistelrooy, David Beckham, Raul and Robinho were present on the pitch.

For coach Kreis, his greatest memory was a personal achievement.

"My hundredth goal, no doubt about it," said Kreis of his favorite Rice-Eccles memory. "There was a huge crowd that night. It was the first opportunity I had. To sit on 99, and then the very next game to take the opportunity to score No. 100 was big to me. The way the crowd reacted, you could tell that they knew what was going on; they knew that was the 100th and they gave me an awesome, awesome response."

While the team had its struggles at home in its first three seasons, Real has turned the tables in 2008 and is the only team without a loss at home.

"I think that if we were sitting in the same place as we have the prior three years, every word out of our mouths right now would be bad about that place," added Kreis.

Recent comments

In reading your comments it reminded me why soccer sucks.
A guy...

Thank You | Sept. 26, 2008 at 1:07 p.m.

You better hope there are fireworks after, because there won't be any...

Fireworks? | Sept. 22, 2008 at 10:39 p.m.

How about the KFC Colonel('s)? The best part of the game.

Anonymous | Sept. 21, 2008 at 10:49 a.m.

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Deseret News archives

Real Salt Lake got a chance to host Real Madrid, featuring soccer icon David Beckham, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2006.

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