Real Salt Lake rename Rio Tinto Stadium as America First Field | OneFootball

Real Salt Lake have rebranded their stadium as America First Field effective immediately, the club announced at the weekend.

Previously known as Rio Tinto Stadium, the 20,000-seater soccer-specific venue was opened in October 2008.

“Since our inaugural game back in 2005, America First Credit Union has supported Real Salt Lake’s connection with this community, offering our amazing fans numerous in-stadium, grassroots and digital initiatives,” RSL president John Kimball said in a club press release.

“This partnership has grown immensely over our 18 seasons, and today’s unveiling of the America First Field signage and nomenclature propels the partnership to an entirely new level.”

RSL have played 269 times at the stadium in Sandy, Utah, winning just shy of 70% of those matches. It has played host to the 2010/11 Concacaf Champions League final and 2013 US Open Cup final - when RSL lost to Monterrey and DC United, respectively.

The club - who entered new ownership by David Blitzer and Ryan Smith in January - will continue to expand their relationship with America First Credit Union moving forward.

“Both RSL and America First Credit Union share many tenets, including an ambitious vision of, commitment to, and innovation for our collective community,” Kimball said.

“The depth, breadth, and term of this naming rights deal for America First Field is exemplary of that partnership, and we look forward to further deepening our jointly held roots across not only the great state of Utah but throughout the Intermountain West.”

Real Salt Lake currently sit seventh in the Western Conference, occupying the final MLS Cup Playoffs spot with four regular-season matches remaining. Pablo Mastroeni's side travel to Austin FC on Wednesday.