Winning Spirit Q1 2026 | Page 15

IN THE MEDIA

Utah’ s Growing Sports Landscape

Utah’ s sports landscape is growing rapidly, and people across the country are taking notice. Stephen J. Nesbitt, a senior MLB writer for The Athletic, wrote an article about the promising future of sports in Utah and the possibility of an MLB team in SLC.

“ When the pioneers came into the valley, they said,‘ This is the place,’” says Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company.“ What we’ ve said, as it relates to Major League Baseball, is this is the place— and we’ re ready.”
Deseret News journalist Krysyan Edler recently wrote an article about the Larry H. Miller Company’ s plans for Utah’ s sports in 2026. Miller Sports + Entertainment acquired Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals FC, Real Monarchs and RSL Academy in April 2025 and is excited for the future of the clubs and of Utah sports as a whole.
Last year, MSE’ s venues – Megaplex, America First Field and The Ballpark at America First Square – saw over 6.2 million guests.
“ As impressive as that number is, what matters most is that it represents millions of individual moments,” said Michelle Smith, president of Miller Sports + Entertainment.“ Our focus is to keep bringing people together and creating experiences they’ ll carry with them long after they leave our venues.”
The LHM Company, Miller Sports + Entertainment and all of its platforms are confident that Utahns will make many lasting memories with the Bees, the Royals and RSL in 2026.
“ Those memories are really the goals that we focus on as a sports organization, as a sports team, to try to create so that people want to come back,” said John Kimball, president of Real Salt Lake.
Visit The Athletic and Deseret News websites to read Nesbitt’ s and Edler’ s articles.
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