Photos Courtesy of Martin Kelly/ESPN 700
On October 26th the Utah Royals announced at a press conference about plans for a new practice facility for the newly NWSL team that will start next season in 2024. Utah Jazz owners Dwyane Wade and Ryan Smith who are also part-owners of RSL, Head Coach of the Utah Royals Amy Rodriguez and Sporting Director Kelly Cousins were in attendance and spoke at the press conference. The new training center for the Utah Royals is expected to be open by the start of the 2024 season.
The team will be taking over and reconstructing the Zion’s Bank Training Center a facility currently being used by the RSL Academy and the Utah’s Warriors. The new practice facility is to have some new accommodation for the players families such as a family room and a mother’s care room, the training center will also include a new performance center, weight room, locker room and much more. The renditions showed the new life the training center will be for the players, coaches and everyone who will be working there.
The ownership and head coach were able to do a groundbreaking shovel ceremony outside the training center to start the process for the training center. During media availability Owner Ryan Smith and Head Coach Amy Rodriguez answered some questions after the ceremony.
Coach Rodriguez was asked about recruiting players and how it will help the royal’s player feel comfortable. Coach Rodriguez said, ” During the creation process of this training center, the players holistic view was looked at and thought about, every detail from the performance training, health and wellness and incorporating a family room and a mother’s room is to fit the needs for our athletes”.
Owner of the Utah Royals Ryan Smith was asked during the media availability about the process of choosing the Zion’s Bank training center and went on to say it was an easy process with the help of the Coach Rodriguez and the leadership she brought for the process of the new facility.
The Utah Royals season is expected to start in March of 2024, the Schedule for the season has not been announced yet.
