January 31, 2005

Real Salt Lake Sponsors Utah Youth's AGM
Keynote Speaker at Awards Banquet from RSL's Ranks

The Utah Youth Soccer Association and Real Salt Lake are pleased to announce that Utah's Major League Soccer team will serve as a principal sponsor of the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the Utah Youth Soccer Association. This event will be held on February 4-5 at the Prime Hotel in Salt Lake City. The keynote speaker of the awards banquet on Friday evening will come from Real Salt Lake's ranks, and other representatives from the Major League Soccer franchise will be present for awards banquet on Friday and the business meeting on Saturday morning.

Utah Youth Soccer President Paul C. Burke welcomed Real Salt Lake's involvement with the Association. "Real Salt Lake wants youth soccer in Utah to thrive," Burke said. "In fact, Coach Ellinger's ties in the youth soccer community are deeper than those of any other MLS coach, and General Manager Steve Pastorino wants to build a positive relationship with Utah's youth soccer community."

"The Utah Youth Soccer Association features active, dedicated families who want to see the sport grow statewide - and RSL anticipates a long, mutually beneficial relationship with them, Pastorino said. "We look forward to formally introducing ourselves to UYSA at the AGM."

Burke expressed optimism that RSL's sponsorship of this event will launch a mutually beneficial relationship between Real Salt Lake and the Utah Youth Soccer Association. In turn, Burke hopes that Utah's soccer community will support Major League Soccer's local team. "We hope and expect that Real Salt Lake will succeed and thrive in this market," Burke said.

Real Salt Lake's Senior Director of Sales, Chris Keeney, will be available during the AGM to help the Association's membership make plans to visit Rice-Eccles Stadium during Real Salt Lake's inaugural season. In addition, the Association's Board of Directors has authorized Real Salt Lake to contact members of the Association to invite them to experience Major League Soccer in Salt Lake City.

The Utah Youth Soccer Association's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on February 4 - 5, 2005 at Salt Lake City's Prime Hotel. The weekend starts with the Annual Awards Banquet. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:30. Vendors will be on site for browsing and networking opportunities. The banquet will feature a special guest speaker and presentation of awards for the Parent, Boys Coach, Girls Coach, Youth Referees, and Volunteer of the Year, as well as the Kirk Hoecherl Service Award.

On Saturday, check-in and a Continental Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. The General Business Meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 12 p.m., followed by a luncheon. Volunteer positions up for election this year are President, Treasurer, and Boys Competition Director. To register for the AGM, please mail your registration form [click here] to 4476 S. Century Drive, Suite D, Salt Lake City, UT 84123. For more information about the AGM, call the State Office at (801) 268-3365 or (800) 618-6003.