Real Salt Lake Owner Dell Loy Hansen said that the team "plans to build a 'world-class' soccer academy and training facility somewhere in the Salt Lake Valley," according to Christopher Kamrani of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Hansen said that the MLS club has "spent the past six months preparing for an official announcement sometime in February." He noted that after seeing the "popularity in ticket sales" of a few select USL Monarchs games in '15 at Rio Tinto Stadium, his idea "shifted toward building a training facility and academy." Hansen said that they have "entertained the idea of relocating RSL's Arizona-based academy in Casa Grande, Ariz., in the process, but added no final decisions have been made." He disclosed that an "early target date" for the facility being completed is late '17. Hansen: "It's a large change, and it will actually mean we'll have to invest almost $15 million more than we planned on investing on the Monarchs stadium. We'll make a larger investment, but it will be what the team needs, as opposed to the stadium." Meanwhile, Hansen "raised the possibility" of an NWSL franchise in Utah, "as well as investments in rugby and lacrosse ventures." Hansen also "clarified his role in the restructuring of the RSL front office." After the contract of former team President Bill Manning "expired last summer, Hansen assumed the role following Manning's departure." He said that he will "keep the role 'for legal definitions'" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/21).
