Real Salt Lake: Checketts introduces stadium naming-rights partner

SANDY — Real Salt Lake's new home has an official name — Rio Tinto Stadium.

The global mining company, which has been the parent company to Kennecott here in Utah for 20 years, was introduced by RSL owner Dave Checketts Monday as the official naming-rights partner of the new soccer-specific stadium, which officially opens Oct. 9.

"We've always prided ourselves in strong support of the local communities whereever we work, including here in the Salt Lake valley," said Rio Tinto Copper CEO Bret Clayton. "We want to continue to show our support going into the future and that's one of the reasons we've taken this opportunity."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but sources confirmed it's a 10-year deal worth roughly $1.5 million annually.

"Soccer is a global sport ... that's why we find this opportunity in working with Real Salt Lake so exciting, and being associated with this stadium," said Clayton, who resides in London but is a graduate of Skyline High and the University of Utah.

Rio Tinto oversees the operations of Kennecott Utah Copper, Kennecott Land Company, Kennecott Exploration and eight support functions that employ more than 2,400 Utahns.

"While the name on the building may not be as familiar, the corporation values and dedication to the local community are the same and will continue for decades to come," said Andrew Harding, president and CEO of Utah Copper.

Harding said Rio Tinto believes in educating the public about mining in Utah, and sponsoring the stadium is one way of doing that. The southwest corner of Rio Tinto Stadium will be known as Kennecott Plaza. It will include displays educating RSL fans about mining as well as telescopes pointing toward Bingham Canyon Mine.

"The fact we have a world-class company deciding to partner with Real Salt Lake gives us credibility, and Bret and Andrew we won't let you down," said RSL president Bill Manning at Monday's press conference. "This is a very proud day for our franchise."

Manning believes it's the quickest naming rights deal in history. Contact between the two parties first occurred on July 29, and 42 days later the deal was officially finalized between Checketts and Clayton.

Rio Tinto Stadium's doors will open to the public for the first time on Oct. 9 when Real Salt Lake plays host to the New York Red Bulls in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 at 8 p.m.

"This opportunity helps us tell our story and lets people know who we are on a local and global level," said Clayton. "Soccer transcends cultural and economic boundaries, as it did when Rio Tinto employees introduced soccer to Spain in the late 1800s. This was done to create recreational opportunities for those living in the village and bring people together. Not much has changed since then."

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com