December 9, 2025 • 21 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's take a little bit of a break to do
a little soccer with our friends at RSL. And the
president of the club is John Kimball, who joins us
sauna too.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Did Johnny? Happy Tuesday?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Man?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
How are we doing? We're doing good, brother, How are
you doing well? Doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
So obviously a very historic announcement a few weeks back,
we were honored to be on side. As part of
it is Linel Messi and Inner Miami are rolling into
town to take on RSL and April coming up of
next year and World Cup draw taking place MLS Cup
won by Miami taking place. Just what sort of buzz
(00:33):
is over there right now about this potential arrival coming
up next April.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
You know, it's been awesome. We had over thirty thousand
unique users register to get tickets and it just kind
of shows you the power of Inner Miami and Messi
and you know, really excited about next year just with
everything with World Cup. It's really, I believe, going to
be a tipping point for just soccer in America and
(01:00):
then for us locally to have Messi come and Inner
Miami come. They have a couple of players that they're
retiring this year they're going to bring in some new
big names and so across the board it's exciting for us.
And then our goal is to put a really solid
team on the field so we can kick the trash
out of them.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
There you go, and that's of course what RSL fans
are most interested in, and the decision making process I
know is ongoing.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
But there was also a change in management.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
A guy you know pretty well, Jason christ you're a
big part of getting Jay back in the market, is
now overseeing the whole thing when it comes to soccer operations.
What sort of inside can you shed on how the
process is going and what sort of decisions need to
be made prior to the start of the year.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, you know, Jason is a very methodical he's very
you know, very focused on, you know, the things that
have made us champions before, and so I was very
excited to bring him back. He focuses on protocol, he
focuses on accountability, and these are all the things that
(02:08):
we really need at this point to really take us
to another level. And they're working really hard and Kurt
Schmidt is out there. Kurt's going to be traveling quite
a bit over the next couple of weeks and looking
for players to really level up our team. And we've
been you know, we've made some moves and a lot
of those moves are to.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Help us get better.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
And I know that's what our fan club, our supporters,
everybody wants across the board, and we are tiresle working
to make that happen when.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
It comes to you know, the messy stuff is very
interesting and I've drawn the parallel because they're different players,
but the goals I think are pretty similar. When David
Beckham was brought over to MLS to play for the
LA Galaxy, and of course that was a partnership that
continues to this day. Is David Beckham is part of
the owner group in Miami that now has Lionel Messi.
(03:03):
But Grant Wall may he rest in Peace wrote an
excellent book called the Beckham Experiments that outlined the benefits
of Major League Soccer as far as what they were
able to receive both tangibly on the field and then
off field just with visibility. Messi, of course, is a
superior player, not just to Beckham but to everybody. David
was a very good player, but more of kind of
(03:24):
like a celebrity ambassador when it comes to things like
the Apple TV deal or just whatever sort of tangible
and intangible benefits the league hast seen. With Lionel Messi's arrival,
How would you kind of articulate the way that's gone.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
It's it's, you know, it took a club that was
in last place and is now I believe it's they've
worn four different championships in different tournaments. They went from
a six hundred million dollar club to a one point
two billion dollar club. And so that's the effect that
some of these names can have. There's others to come,
(04:00):
I believe, and I think like Beckham has done with
ownership and different things and jersey rights and opportunity along
those lines. That's that's what makes it compelling. And the
fact that there's a lot of growth in the United
States for the game of soccer. You know, we're going
to see that this next year the world's largest sport
(04:20):
and how it's celebrated with the World Cup coming to
the United States. But you know, that's that's the real
upside to everything that's happening with the MLS and and
with soccer in America is we have a lot of
room to grow, and we have these amazing athletes that
you know, people may say, you know, Messi's uh, you know,
(04:41):
on his last leg. I think he'll be very competitive
in the World Cup next year. But there's players that
are in their prime that are looking to come as well.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
So you know, I know there are a lot of
people because there have been, you know, some situations and look,
you cannot prepare for injuries.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Unfortunately, that's part of sports.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
And you know, one of the deals with NBA basketball
right now. And Tom Haberstrow front of the show did
a huge takeout piece on which markets have been most
adversely affected by quote load management, which essentially means stars
deciding they don't want to show up for work. We
were on the top of the list. Salt Lake was one,
Denver was two. There are a lot of jazz fans
that buy tickets to see Lebron, or they buy tickets
(05:23):
to see Durant or Steph or whatever, and oftentimes they
show up to the Delta Center and they find out
as they're jury in the arena that they decided they
did not want to get on an airplane. So you know,
there's that, like I said, if an injury occurs, an
injury occurs. But what sort of assurances, if any at all,
have you guys received, or is that even possible to
(05:45):
make sure that Lino Messi comes into town next April.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, I mean straight up, there's no assurances that that happens.
He chose to not play in a number of different games,
either based on injury or whatever else. But the one
thing that I'm really confident about is his appearance in
the World Cup and the shape that he wants to
be in for the World Cup. And that's why one
of the things I was very focused on is to
(06:11):
hopefully get this game prior to the World Cup. And
have heard you know, I'm not going to say that,
you know, I've heard it directly, but you know, games
played at altitude, games played that are going to get
him in shape for the World Cup are very meaningful
to him. And so that's why I feel very confident
(06:31):
that he's going to come and play. But as you said,
there's no guarantees. A lot different than the NBA and
all the games that they play and the games that
they think they can pick to choose. I think it's
a little different where you'll have players like that like
Lebron and others that will just choose not to play.
I don't think we see that as much in the MLS.
(06:51):
Players want to play, and then I think people of
Messi's caliber, especially wanting to get in shape and be
prepared for the World Cup. He's going to want to
get as many reps as he can prior to that.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
So you reference the desire to put a product on
the field. So, I mean, look, you're not going to
take the focus away from the greatest soccer player in
their history of the sport. There will be plenty of
people that want to simply show up to watch Lino
Messi and just be there for an event that is
notable in our state, not just notable in soccer. I mean,
(07:24):
you know, when you think about the most famous people
in the world, John He's on the short list. But
you reference the desire to put a product on the
field that is competitive and ultimately can throw punches with
some of the best teams in MLS. According to the
Athletic you guys were twenty third in spend out of
thirty teams this year. So there are teams that are
operating off a little bit of a budget that's even
(07:46):
you know, smaller than RSLs and no one's going to
ask you to spend forty eight point nine inner Miami's
one LAFC bringing in Sonny is thirty point one. Then
it's Atlanta, and look, you can't draw a straight line
from spend to results.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Atlanta had a really bad year.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
But I know there are a lot of RSL fans
that probably are a little bit tired of operating off
a budget that's a little bit limited. And it's no
longer two thousand and nine the team that we look
back on with such fondness that lifted down LS Cup.
You've got to be able to spend with the big boys.
There's a new ownership group in town, and it feels
like they have committed to spend the way they need
to to be competitive.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Can you shed some light on that.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, I mean that's the one thing that the Miller
group brings to us is that they want to be competitive,
They want to win championships. Are they going to go
spend ridiculous money like that. No, And I've said this
to you before. We're much more of a developmental team.
You're going to see players like Gozo that are coming up.
You're going to see players like Diego that are going
(08:45):
to come up because we're giving them the opportunity to
play and grow within our club as opposed to going
and spending the kind of money that's being spent by
Inner Miami and others. And that's just our philosophy. It's
a philosophy that Jason Price buys into. It's a philosophy
that obviously takes some patient.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
John, did you fall into a pothole? Did you decide
to jump into a lake? In the middle of our interview,
John's gone. That's very sad that John's gone. Got a
couple of other questions to see if we get John
back on the horn, A couple of other things I
want to get to John. Of course, the calendar shift
is going to be complicated. What does that mean for
(09:31):
stadium renovations When it comes to the way they're going
to handle this, I believe will be front loaded. When
it starts with the teams in colder weather, then there's
going to be a bit of a break. But what
will that look like? I would imagine the Millers are
looking to make a little bit of logistical changes to
the way the stadium is going to look and feel like.
So we'll get with John with that if you missed
(09:53):
the news today, RSL has parted ways with Hamison A
Lave and Joel de Las, so they're no longer part
of the group. We'll get John Kimball back on the line. John,
we lost it there for a moment. But let's move
over into the space of MLS deciding that they wanted
to change their calendar. Now, a lot of people have
been wanting this to happen for a long long time.
I remember my father back in two thousand and five
(10:15):
was a big advocate of this. But it does provide
some logistical challenges for teams that play in cities that
tend to have snow. And I'm no weather expert, but
last time I checked, I think we're one of those cities.
Does this mean stadium renovations? How are you guys going
to handle the calendar change?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Yeah? I mean the good news is ninety percent of
the games that we're playing now at the time, we're
going to play them at the same time, So essentially
there may be a game a little bit later in November.
The league has identified US and maybe four or five
other teams as northern teams that are obviously dealing with
weather issues and so they're not going to schedule you know,
(10:55):
December games and early February games in these areas. They're
going to put them in the air is where it
makes more sense, as as we've seen almost every year
where you know the season will start, will maybe have
one or two away games before we'll have a home game,
just in preparation, you know, for for issues with snow.
And so for the most part, it's really not going
(11:17):
to affect our schedule other than it's going to open
up a couple weeks in the summer where you know
the you know, the one real positive thing is the
playoffs are going to be played in spring, and you know,
the Cup will be essentially played in the summer, which
you know isn't going to have as much competition as
it does now have with November and December, with college
(11:39):
and NFL and hockey and NBA, et cetera, et cetera.
I think the only competition is going to be baseball
at that point. So a lot of good things are
coming out of it, and I don't think in the
long run it'll affect us as much as as people
think it might. But to the point of renovation, yes,
there are renovation plans that are happening right now. We're
(12:02):
excited to actually get to work here in the next
couple of weeks on a couple of things that we're
going to try to get prepared before the season and
before the messy game, and so, you know, a lot
of really exciting things coming for season ticket holders and
people that'll come out as fans.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Since it was news you guys announced today, of course,
Hamas and alave as a club legend, being one of
the central defenders during the best run in RSL history.
Along with that Porcher's and he has been let go,
as has Joel the last so two assistant coaches showing
their papers today, what can you what sort of information
can you share?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I mean, you know, more than anything, just want to
say thank you to both of them. They're amazing people.
And Thomason was an incredible contributor for a number of years,
not only as a player, but as an assistant coach
and working with the Monarchs and head coach with the
Monarchs and then also as an assistant Pablo. All I
(13:00):
can really say is that the coaching staff made a
decision to make some changes and again in an attempt
to try to level up and do the things that
we need to do to you know, put a team
on the field that's going to be competitive next year,
and that that was part of those decisions. So you know,
from me and from the club, it's really just thank
you for all that they've done, and we're you know,
(13:22):
hoping that with the decisions that we've made, that we're
only going to be better from it.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Final question, I can remember and you were maybe the
first employee we hired. I know Trey will be upset
that we said that, but back in two thousand and four,
one of the real kind of cherries that were out
there on the top of the Sunday or just something
that was intriguing is that we were bringing the club
to Salt Lake City two years before a World Cup. Now,
(13:49):
that World Cup back in two thousand and six, I
want to say it was Brazil, if I remember correctly,
So this is this is a little bit of a
different deal.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
You know, that was German.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Excuse that World Cup was played in Germany, and this
is a little bit of a different deal because the
first time, I think since ninety four, the World Cup
will be played in our region. Now, the last time
we had a World Cup that essentially bred the beginning
of Major League Soccer.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
So it's not nothing.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
It feels like it's a moment that the league and
every club really needs to capitalize on. I don't know
that I been covering the team now, I've been around
the team for twenty plus years, and I don't know
if I believe that soccer will ever be on par
with some of our most consumed sports, but I certainly
believe that the ecosystem has room to grow. What sort
(14:36):
of either intangible or tangible benefits is the league hoping
to ascertain from this World Cup that starts in a
matter of weeks, Now, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I mean there's obviously percentages and research and analytics that
show the growth after a World Cup, and I truly
believe that that will be the case. I mean, I've
said this to you before. This is the largest sporting
event in the history of the world to be happening
in America next year. Because with eleven NFL stadiums and
(15:05):
everybody that's going to be coming to America to see
these games and to see how, you know, the beautiful
game is celebrated around the world. It's massive. This is
going to be unlike anything that we've ever seen. So
it is a tipping point for the league. It's a
tipping point for the sport. They are counting on growth,
you know. And again, you know, I mean I look
(15:26):
back to my famous hockey carera when I saw America
win the Gold Cup or win the gold medal in
the Olympics, I just started. I decided to play hockey
and I was a sophomore in a high school and
I'd never been on ice skates before. So with that,
with the World Cup and with people seeing this sport
played here in America and going to those games, I
(15:46):
think there's going to be a lot of kids, a
lot of people that are going to be you know,
endeared to this sport, want to play this sport. And
I really truly believe it'll be a massive tipping point
for us and help us, you know, over the next
ten years. So yes, I think there's going to be
a significant lift in interest. And then I also think
it's also going to get players from around the world
(16:09):
to come to America and see what soccer and America
is all about. So we may get even better players
that are going to come and want to play in
this league. So across the board. I think there's going
to be some serious benefit.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
All right, my friend, Well, I appreciate the time today,
Best of luck moving forward, and we'll continue to get
our listeners the information they need to potentially go see
the greatest soccer player in the history of the game,
which is really cool. Thanks Johnny, all right, take care,
John Kimball, president of RSL, Lionel Messi himself will be
in Utah April the twenty second. You can go to
RSL dot com. I believe there's a waiting list and
(16:44):
unfortunately there's no insurance policy in place that if he
does not make the trip anything can be done about it,
which is tough stuff. But hopefully he'll make the trip
because it really is a matter of weeks before the
World Cup, so you have to imagine he's gonna want
to be in good soccer shape if he does play
in the World Cup. He actually alluded to the possibility
of him sitting out, which would be a bummer.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
All right, final hour of the program coming up.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
On the other side, we'll get back to the news
of the day today with Utah Football and their new
private equity partner. But before we catch a break, I
got Dave from America First Credit Union is live in
studio once again.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
What's going on?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Dave?
Speaker 2 (17:17):
How are you man?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Just happy to be here and there's so many good
things going on with this with this show today. I
just love the education and love the heads up for
this big announcement.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
No, I appreciate your time, and we've talked a lot
about America First Credit Union and the different things you
guys have going on, none of the least of which
you know. We're a sports talk radio show, so chances
are anybody listening, and just like sports, I don't know
why else you would listen to the show. Official partner
of the University of Utah, the aforementioned Ral Salt Lake.
But you just came out with a limited edition Jazz
(17:46):
Affinity card.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Let's hear about this one.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
Yeah, this is our fifth Affinity card and these these
visa debit cards are different than the regular production cards
that you would have. There's a lot of cool things
that go into that and the quality of it. But
this year's card is is super great. I grew up
as a Weaver State fan and so I love purple
and this is our second purple card. It's got an
enhanced logo it's got some silver sheene to it, but
(18:09):
it's just sleek, looks really nice and for a jazz fan,
you can show your pride and your wallet you can
show it with your purchases. But we're super excited to
offer this card and not only spence is it sleek
and it looks cool, but it offers lots of great
deals and discounts. It unlocks experiences when you use that card,
when you go to the Delta Center, you can get
(18:30):
discounts on food, you can get discounts on merchandise. You
can get in early, thirty minutes early before anybody else.
You know when the door's open. And so if you
got you know your kids, your family, you want to go,
take them to a fun experience and see the team
warm up, walk around, catch all the you know, spectacular stuff.
Without the crowds. You can get in early. So we're
(18:51):
excited to offer those. I love the discounts on the food.
You know, when you use your JAP your Jazz app,
you can get ten percent off on some of the concessions.
The fifteen percent discount off purchases inside the Utah Jazz
Team store is great. You know, we know that merch
can be a little pricey, a little expensive, and so
that makes it more affordable, especially if you're trying to
(19:12):
outfit a family with some of that stuff. One of
the things that I'm really hopeful for. I cross my
fingers every mom Man, it's coming. It's common. Maybe we
have an ace in the hole, but we're looking for
a triple double.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
I know fans get excited fourth quarter when they start
cheering for chicken.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I'm cheering for the triple double.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
When a jazz player scores a triple double, then the
next day there's a thirty two percent off discount in
the Utah Jazz Team store for your purchases. When when
that triple double hits, and so I'm looking for it,
I think Lariy marking.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
You know, I'm hopeful.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
So I didn't have Usif Nurkic on my bingo card,
but Usif Nerkic like three weeks ago, I think he
was two assist shy of a triple double. Yeah, it
would be stunning if it was Usif Nurkic. Of all players,
Larry's got a shot. It's gonna It's gonna happen this year.
I want to unders score the early entry because it's
a really cool deal. And certainly it's at Rice Cycles
(20:06):
for Utah games America first for RSL games. But one
of the coolest things you can do if you're a
basketball fan is get to a Jazz game early when
like Steph is in town and watch those pregame warm
up routines. It's amazing to see that level of skill.
He shoots it from half court and he hits like
seven of ten. I remember I used to love watching
Dirk Novitsky just warm up because he had such a
(20:27):
great job shot. Getting in thirty minutes before the rest
of the general public will be an experience that you
and your kids it just won't forget.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
It's really cool. Yeah, it's really awesome.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
I remember going when Damian Lillard, my man, came to
town and I had, yeah, I had a shirt. Obviously,
he went to Weaver State, so he's born in Oakland,
so my shirt was Oakland to Ogden to Oregon.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
And I screamed in the hollard and I tried to.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Get Damian to just even just pay me a little
bit attention, just come look at me.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
But yeah, those those early fan experiences are choice and
really fun and It makes it more intimate and more engaging,
especially for the young ones.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Shot Clock is on Visit america First dot com slash
Jazz to get your free Jazz Limited Edition visa debit
card before they're gone.
Let's take a little bit of a break to do
a little soccer with our friends at RSL. And the
president of the club is John Kimball, who joins us
sauna too.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Did Johnny? Happy Tuesday?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Man?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
How are we doing? We're doing good, brother, How are
you doing well? Doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
So obviously a very historic announcement a few weeks back,
we were honored to be on side. As part of
it is Linel Messi and Inner Miami are rolling into
town to take on RSL and April coming up of
next year and World Cup draw taking place MLS Cup
won by Miami taking place. Just what sort of buzz
(00:33):
is over there right now about this potential arrival coming
up next April.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
You know, it's been awesome. We had over thirty thousand
unique users register to get tickets and it just kind
of shows you the power of Inner Miami and Messi
and you know, really excited about next year just with
everything with World Cup. It's really, I believe, going to
be a tipping point for just soccer in America and
(01:00):
then for us locally to have Messi come and Inner
Miami come. They have a couple of players that they're
retiring this year they're going to bring in some new
big names and so across the board it's exciting for us.
And then our goal is to put a really solid
team on the field so we can kick the trash
out of them.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
There you go, and that's of course what RSL fans
are most interested in, and the decision making process I
know is ongoing.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
But there was also a change in management.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
A guy you know pretty well, Jason christ you're a
big part of getting Jay back in the market, is
now overseeing the whole thing when it comes to soccer operations.
What sort of inside can you shed on how the
process is going and what sort of decisions need to
be made prior to the start of the year.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, you know, Jason is a very methodical he's very
you know, very focused on, you know, the things that
have made us champions before, and so I was very
excited to bring him back. He focuses on protocol, he
focuses on accountability, and these are all the things that
(02:08):
we really need at this point to really take us
to another level. And they're working really hard and Kurt
Schmidt is out there. Kurt's going to be traveling quite
a bit over the next couple of weeks and looking
for players to really level up our team. And we've
been you know, we've made some moves and a lot
of those moves are to.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Help us get better.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
And I know that's what our fan club, our supporters,
everybody wants across the board, and we are tiresle working
to make that happen when.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
It comes to you know, the messy stuff is very
interesting and I've drawn the parallel because they're different players,
but the goals I think are pretty similar. When David
Beckham was brought over to MLS to play for the
LA Galaxy, and of course that was a partnership that
continues to this day. Is David Beckham is part of
the owner group in Miami that now has Lionel Messi.
(03:03):
But Grant Wall may he rest in Peace wrote an
excellent book called the Beckham Experiments that outlined the benefits
of Major League Soccer as far as what they were
able to receive both tangibly on the field and then
off field just with visibility. Messi, of course, is a
superior player, not just to Beckham but to everybody. David
was a very good player, but more of kind of
(03:24):
like a celebrity ambassador when it comes to things like
the Apple TV deal or just whatever sort of tangible
and intangible benefits the league hast seen. With Lionel Messi's arrival,
How would you kind of articulate the way that's gone.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
It's it's, you know, it took a club that was
in last place and is now I believe it's they've
worn four different championships in different tournaments. They went from
a six hundred million dollar club to a one point
two billion dollar club. And so that's the effect that
some of these names can have. There's others to come,
(04:00):
I believe, and I think like Beckham has done with
ownership and different things and jersey rights and opportunity along
those lines. That's that's what makes it compelling. And the
fact that there's a lot of growth in the United
States for the game of soccer. You know, we're going
to see that this next year the world's largest sport
(04:20):
and how it's celebrated with the World Cup coming to
the United States. But you know, that's that's the real
upside to everything that's happening with the MLS and and
with soccer in America is we have a lot of
room to grow, and we have these amazing athletes that
you know, people may say, you know, Messi's uh, you know,
(04:41):
on his last leg. I think he'll be very competitive
in the World Cup next year. But there's players that
are in their prime that are looking to come as well.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
So you know, I know there are a lot of
people because there have been, you know, some situations and look,
you cannot prepare for injuries.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Unfortunately, that's part of sports.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
And you know, one of the deals with NBA basketball
right now. And Tom Haberstrow front of the show did
a huge takeout piece on which markets have been most
adversely affected by quote load management, which essentially means stars
deciding they don't want to show up for work. We
were on the top of the list. Salt Lake was one,
Denver was two. There are a lot of jazz fans
that buy tickets to see Lebron, or they buy tickets
(05:23):
to see Durant or Steph or whatever, and oftentimes they
show up to the Delta Center and they find out
as they're jury in the arena that they decided they
did not want to get on an airplane. So you know,
there's that, like I said, if an injury occurs, an
injury occurs. But what sort of assurances, if any at all,
have you guys received, or is that even possible to
(05:45):
make sure that Lino Messi comes into town next April.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, I mean straight up, there's no assurances that that happens.
He chose to not play in a number of different games,
either based on injury or whatever else. But the one
thing that I'm really confident about is his appearance in
the World Cup and the shape that he wants to
be in for the World Cup. And that's why one
of the things I was very focused on is to
(06:11):
hopefully get this game prior to the World Cup. And
have heard you know, I'm not going to say that,
you know, I've heard it directly, but you know, games
played at altitude, games played that are going to get
him in shape for the World Cup are very meaningful
to him. And so that's why I feel very confident
(06:31):
that he's going to come and play. But as you said,
there's no guarantees. A lot different than the NBA and
all the games that they play and the games that
they think they can pick to choose. I think it's
a little different where you'll have players like that like
Lebron and others that will just choose not to play.
I don't think we see that as much in the MLS.
(06:51):
Players want to play, and then I think people of
Messi's caliber, especially wanting to get in shape and be
prepared for the World Cup. He's going to want to
get as many reps as he can prior to that.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
So you reference the desire to put a product on
the field. So, I mean, look, you're not going to
take the focus away from the greatest soccer player in
their history of the sport. There will be plenty of
people that want to simply show up to watch Lino
Messi and just be there for an event that is
notable in our state, not just notable in soccer. I mean,
(07:24):
you know, when you think about the most famous people
in the world, John He's on the short list. But
you reference the desire to put a product on the
field that is competitive and ultimately can throw punches with
some of the best teams in MLS. According to the
Athletic you guys were twenty third in spend out of
thirty teams this year. So there are teams that are
operating off a little bit of a budget that's even
(07:46):
you know, smaller than RSLs and no one's going to
ask you to spend forty eight point nine inner Miami's
one LAFC bringing in Sonny is thirty point one. Then
it's Atlanta, and look, you can't draw a straight line
from spend to results.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Atlanta had a really bad year.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
But I know there are a lot of RSL fans
that probably are a little bit tired of operating off
a budget that's a little bit limited. And it's no
longer two thousand and nine the team that we look
back on with such fondness that lifted down LS Cup.
You've got to be able to spend with the big boys.
There's a new ownership group in town, and it feels
like they have committed to spend the way they need
to to be competitive.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Can you shed some light on that.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, I mean that's the one thing that the Miller
group brings to us is that they want to be competitive,
They want to win championships. Are they going to go
spend ridiculous money like that. No, And I've said this
to you before. We're much more of a developmental team.
You're going to see players like Gozo that are coming up.
You're going to see players like Diego that are going
(08:45):
to come up because we're giving them the opportunity to
play and grow within our club as opposed to going
and spending the kind of money that's being spent by
Inner Miami and others. And that's just our philosophy. It's
a philosophy that Jason Price buys into. It's a philosophy
that obviously takes some patient.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
John, did you fall into a pothole? Did you decide
to jump into a lake? In the middle of our interview,
John's gone. That's very sad that John's gone. Got a
couple of other questions to see if we get John
back on the horn, A couple of other things I
want to get to John. Of course, the calendar shift
is going to be complicated. What does that mean for
(09:31):
stadium renovations When it comes to the way they're going
to handle this, I believe will be front loaded. When
it starts with the teams in colder weather, then there's
going to be a bit of a break. But what
will that look like? I would imagine the Millers are
looking to make a little bit of logistical changes to
the way the stadium is going to look and feel like.
So we'll get with John with that if you missed
(09:53):
the news today, RSL has parted ways with Hamison A
Lave and Joel de Las, so they're no longer part
of the group. We'll get John Kimball back on the line. John,
we lost it there for a moment. But let's move
over into the space of MLS deciding that they wanted
to change their calendar. Now, a lot of people have
been wanting this to happen for a long long time.
I remember my father back in two thousand and five
(10:15):
was a big advocate of this. But it does provide
some logistical challenges for teams that play in cities that
tend to have snow. And I'm no weather expert, but
last time I checked, I think we're one of those cities.
Does this mean stadium renovations? How are you guys going
to handle the calendar change?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Yeah? I mean the good news is ninety percent of
the games that we're playing now at the time, we're
going to play them at the same time, So essentially
there may be a game a little bit later in November.
The league has identified US and maybe four or five
other teams as northern teams that are obviously dealing with
weather issues and so they're not going to schedule you know,
(10:55):
December games and early February games in these areas. They're
going to put them in the air is where it
makes more sense, as as we've seen almost every year
where you know the season will start, will maybe have
one or two away games before we'll have a home game,
just in preparation, you know, for for issues with snow.
And so for the most part, it's really not going
(11:17):
to affect our schedule other than it's going to open
up a couple weeks in the summer where you know
the you know, the one real positive thing is the
playoffs are going to be played in spring, and you know,
the Cup will be essentially played in the summer, which
you know isn't going to have as much competition as
it does now have with November and December, with college
(11:39):
and NFL and hockey and NBA, et cetera, et cetera.
I think the only competition is going to be baseball
at that point. So a lot of good things are
coming out of it, and I don't think in the
long run it'll affect us as much as as people
think it might. But to the point of renovation, yes,
there are renovation plans that are happening right now. We're
(12:02):
excited to actually get to work here in the next
couple of weeks on a couple of things that we're
going to try to get prepared before the season and
before the messy game, and so, you know, a lot
of really exciting things coming for season ticket holders and
people that'll come out as fans.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Since it was news you guys announced today, of course,
Hamas and alave as a club legend, being one of
the central defenders during the best run in RSL history.
Along with that Porcher's and he has been let go,
as has Joel the last so two assistant coaches showing
their papers today, what can you what sort of information
can you share?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
I mean, you know, more than anything, just want to
say thank you to both of them. They're amazing people.
And Thomason was an incredible contributor for a number of years,
not only as a player, but as an assistant coach
and working with the Monarchs and head coach with the
Monarchs and then also as an assistant Pablo. All I
(13:00):
can really say is that the coaching staff made a
decision to make some changes and again in an attempt
to try to level up and do the things that
we need to do to you know, put a team
on the field that's going to be competitive next year,
and that that was part of those decisions. So you know,
from me and from the club, it's really just thank
you for all that they've done, and we're you know,
(13:22):
hoping that with the decisions that we've made, that we're
only going to be better from it.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Final question, I can remember and you were maybe the
first employee we hired. I know Trey will be upset
that we said that, but back in two thousand and four,
one of the real kind of cherries that were out
there on the top of the Sunday or just something
that was intriguing is that we were bringing the club
to Salt Lake City two years before a World Cup. Now,
(13:49):
that World Cup back in two thousand and six, I
want to say it was Brazil, if I remember correctly,
So this is this is a little bit of a
different deal.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
You know, that was German.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Excuse that World Cup was played in Germany, and this
is a little bit of a different deal because the
first time, I think since ninety four, the World Cup
will be played in our region. Now, the last time
we had a World Cup that essentially bred the beginning
of Major League Soccer.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
So it's not nothing.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
It feels like it's a moment that the league and
every club really needs to capitalize on. I don't know
that I been covering the team now, I've been around
the team for twenty plus years, and I don't know
if I believe that soccer will ever be on par
with some of our most consumed sports, but I certainly
believe that the ecosystem has room to grow. What sort
(14:36):
of either intangible or tangible benefits is the league hoping
to ascertain from this World Cup that starts in a
matter of weeks, Now, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I mean there's obviously percentages and research and analytics that
show the growth after a World Cup, and I truly
believe that that will be the case. I mean, I've
said this to you before. This is the largest sporting
event in the history of the world to be happening
in America next year. Because with eleven NFL stadiums and
(15:05):
everybody that's going to be coming to America to see
these games and to see how, you know, the beautiful
game is celebrated around the world. It's massive. This is
going to be unlike anything that we've ever seen. So
it is a tipping point for the league. It's a
tipping point for the sport. They are counting on growth,
you know. And again, you know, I mean I look
(15:26):
back to my famous hockey carera when I saw America
win the Gold Cup or win the gold medal in
the Olympics, I just started. I decided to play hockey
and I was a sophomore in a high school and
I'd never been on ice skates before. So with that,
with the World Cup and with people seeing this sport
played here in America and going to those games, I
(15:46):
think there's going to be a lot of kids, a
lot of people that are going to be you know,
endeared to this sport, want to play this sport. And
I really truly believe it'll be a massive tipping point
for us and help us, you know, over the next
ten years. So yes, I think there's going to be
a significant lift in interest. And then I also think
it's also going to get players from around the world
(16:09):
to come to America and see what soccer and America
is all about. So we may get even better players
that are going to come and want to play in
this league. So across the board. I think there's going
to be some serious benefit.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
All right, my friend, Well, I appreciate the time today,
Best of luck moving forward, and we'll continue to get
our listeners the information they need to potentially go see
the greatest soccer player in the history of the game,
which is really cool. Thanks Johnny, all right, take care,
John Kimball, president of RSL, Lionel Messi himself will be
in Utah April the twenty second. You can go to
RSL dot com. I believe there's a waiting list and
(16:44):
unfortunately there's no insurance policy in place that if he
does not make the trip anything can be done about it,
which is tough stuff. But hopefully he'll make the trip
because it really is a matter of weeks before the
World Cup, so you have to imagine he's gonna want
to be in good soccer shape if he does play
in the World Cup. He actually alluded to the possibility
of him sitting out, which would be a bummer.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
All right, final hour of the program coming up.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
On the other side, we'll get back to the news
of the day today with Utah Football and their new
private equity partner. But before we catch a break, I
got Dave from America First Credit Union is live in
studio once again.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
What's going on?
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Dave?
Speaker 2 (17:17):
How are you man?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
Just happy to be here and there's so many good
things going on with this with this show today. I
just love the education and love the heads up for
this big announcement.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
No, I appreciate your time, and we've talked a lot
about America First Credit Union and the different things you
guys have going on, none of the least of which
you know. We're a sports talk radio show, so chances
are anybody listening, and just like sports, I don't know
why else you would listen to the show. Official partner
of the University of Utah, the aforementioned Ral Salt Lake.
But you just came out with a limited edition Jazz
(17:46):
Affinity card.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
Let's hear about this one.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
Yeah, this is our fifth Affinity card and these these
visa debit cards are different than the regular production cards
that you would have. There's a lot of cool things
that go into that and the quality of it. But
this year's card is is super great. I grew up
as a Weaver State fan and so I love purple
and this is our second purple card. It's got an
enhanced logo it's got some silver sheene to it, but
(18:09):
it's just sleek, looks really nice and for a jazz fan,
you can show your pride and your wallet you can
show it with your purchases. But we're super excited to
offer this card and not only spence is it sleek
and it looks cool, but it offers lots of great
deals and discounts. It unlocks experiences when you use that card,
when you go to the Delta Center, you can get
(18:30):
discounts on food, you can get discounts on merchandise. You
can get in early, thirty minutes early before anybody else.
You know when the door's open. And so if you
got you know your kids, your family, you want to go,
take them to a fun experience and see the team
warm up, walk around, catch all the you know, spectacular stuff.
Without the crowds. You can get in early. So we're
(18:51):
excited to offer those. I love the discounts on the food.
You know, when you use your JAP your Jazz app,
you can get ten percent off on some of the concessions.
The fifteen percent discount off purchases inside the Utah Jazz
Team store is great. You know, we know that merch
can be a little pricey, a little expensive, and so
that makes it more affordable, especially if you're trying to
(19:12):
outfit a family with some of that stuff. One of
the things that I'm really hopeful for. I cross my
fingers every mom Man, it's coming. It's common. Maybe we
have an ace in the hole, but we're looking for
a triple double.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
I know fans get excited fourth quarter when they start
cheering for chicken.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I'm cheering for the triple double.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
When a jazz player scores a triple double, then the
next day there's a thirty two percent off discount in
the Utah Jazz Team store for your purchases. When when
that triple double hits, and so I'm looking for it,
I think Lariy marking.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
You know, I'm hopeful.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
So I didn't have Usif Nurkic on my bingo card,
but Usif Nerkic like three weeks ago, I think he
was two assist shy of a triple double. Yeah, it
would be stunning if it was Usif Nurkic. Of all players,
Larry's got a shot. It's gonna It's gonna happen this year.
I want to unders score the early entry because it's
a really cool deal. And certainly it's at Rice Cycles
(20:06):
for Utah games America first for RSL games. But one
of the coolest things you can do if you're a
basketball fan is get to a Jazz game early when
like Steph is in town and watch those pregame warm
up routines. It's amazing to see that level of skill.
He shoots it from half court and he hits like
seven of ten. I remember I used to love watching
Dirk Novitsky just warm up because he had such a
(20:27):
great job shot. Getting in thirty minutes before the rest
of the general public will be an experience that you
and your kids it just won't forget.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
It's really cool. Yeah, it's really awesome.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
I remember going when Damian Lillard, my man, came to
town and I had, yeah, I had a shirt. Obviously,
he went to Weaver State, so he's born in Oakland,
so my shirt was Oakland to Ogden to Oregon.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
And I screamed in the hollard and I tried to.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
Get Damian to just even just pay me a little
bit attention, just come look at me.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
But yeah, those those early fan experiences are choice and
really fun and It makes it more intimate and more engaging,
especially for the young ones.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Shot Clock is on Visit america First dot com slash
Jazz to get your free Jazz Limited Edition visa debit
card before they're gone.
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