On Monday Real Monarchs SLC opened the doors to its new home at Zions Bank Stadium for the very first time, much to the awe of the club’s players, staff and fans. The Monarchs played to a 0-0 draw with regional rival Las Vegas Lights FC in the opener and despite not walking away with victory after generating chance after chance, the club admired the beauty, intimacy and support it received at its new home.
“The atmosphere was fantastic and unlike anything we’ve ever had at the Monarchs,” Head Coach Mark Briggs said after the match. “Having the fans that close in an intimate environment is incredible and the stadium is beautiful.”
Set on the campus of the $78 million Zions Bank Real Academy, the United Soccer League’s newest venue offers views of both the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountain ranges and with the atmosphere provided by Monarchs fans, Zions Bank Stadium becomes the capstone stadium of the USL. With fans no more than 5-10 yards away from the field of play when sitting in the front row, the stadium provided the most intimate home setting the Monarchs had ever played in.
“It was incredible having the fans so close while we were playing,” midfielder Sebastian Velasquez reflected. “We need the fans to be that 12th man to help us beat teams that visit the stadium. You could feel the energy radiating from the fans to the field, we could barely hear each other. It was amazing.”
The opening match in the stadium saw the home side dominate after Las Vegas received a red card in the match’s early stages – much to the fans excitement – and the atmosphere inside the building lit up as the sun set over the venue’s west stand.
“From the get go the fans came out to support us,” defender James Moberg said. “They were incredible. If we can get that every game our experience here is going to be incredible. With the drummers and the fans being so close it makes our job as players really exciting.”
For 90 consecutive minutes the fans chanted and cheered on the Monarchs as the stadium hoped for a goal that would send them into a frenzy. That goal almost came to fruition on multiple occasions throughout the match but the team and its fans had to settle for the scoreless evening.
Regardless of the inaugural result, the team and its fans officially have a place to call home in Herriman City. A place where no other team resides, a field that the club takes great pride in defending and a world-class family atmosphere that fans can make their own.
The club remains in Herriman for the second of four-straight matches at home when it looks to draw level on points with visitors Orange County SC atop the Western Conference standings. Tickets to the match are still available and can be purchased by calling 844.REAL.TIX or visiting RealMonarchs.com.
