Reports: Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals sale discussions reach advanced stage | OneFootball

It appears for the second time in five years, Real Salt Lake is up for sale.

According to a report from Sportico that has since been confirmed by the New York Times and GiveMeSport, David Blitzer is in late-stage discussions with the Miller family, the previous owners of the NBA's Utah Jazz, about selling a controlling interest in the MLS club, the NWSL sister club Utah Royals and MLS Next Pro side Real Monarchs.

Blitzer and his partner Ryan Smith previously bought the club in 2022 after then-owner Dell Loy Hansen put the club up for sale in 2020, influenced in part by an investigation from The Athletic that unearthed a history of Hansen using racist language around club employees.

During the interim period, MLS had to step in an operate the club until the sale was finally completed.

Presuming this more-recent transaction is indeed being negotiated, Blitzer would become the second controlling owner of an MLS club actively looking to sell, after the Vancouver Whitecaps ownership announced it was looking for a new buyer last December.

So far, the situation in Salt Lake does not appear to involve any significant potential of club relocation.

Return on investment

After buying RSL in 2022, Blitzer and Smith invested at a greater level in the club's roster than previous ownership, including paying the four largest transfer fees in club history, according to Transfermarkt. But it has also recouped three of the four largest transfer fees in club history, including a reported $11 million recouped for the sale of Carlos Gomez to Stade Rennais last summer.

The ownership group also re-launched the Royals in 2024 after they folded following the cancelation of the 2020 NWSL season, with the side finishing in 11th out of 14 in the single-table standings.

Other holdings

Blitzer is also a managing partner of the NHL's New Jersey Devils and NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, and a limited partner with the NFL's Washington Commanders and MLB's Cleveland Guardians.

In the soccer world, Blitzer is a general partner at the Premier League's Crystal Palace, and also the owner of clubs in Spain, Portugual, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Blitzer's partner Smith previously bought a controlling interest in the Jazz from the Miller family in late 2020. It's unclear what role Smith would retain in RSL, the Royals and Monarchs if the sale goes through.