91-462: America First Field (formerly Rio Tinto Stadium and referred to as The RioT ) is an American soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah , that serves as home stadium for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake and National Women's Soccer League club Utah Royals . The stadium opened on October 9, 2008, and seats 20,213 for soccer, but can be expanded to over 25,000 for concerts. The stadium hosted
182-616: A No Labels National Co-chair, and on July 17, 2023, he appeared with US senator Joe Manchin as headliners for a No Labels Common Sense Agenda Town Hall in Manchester, New Hampshire. Huntsman is a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee . Huntsman was born March 26, 1960, in Redwood City, California . His father, Jon Huntsman Sr. , was a business executive who later became
273-497: A healthcare mandate , Huntsman said, "I'm comfortable with a requirement–you can call it whatever you want, but at some point we're going to have to get serious about how we deal with this issue". The healthcare plan that passed in Utah under Huntsman did not include a healthcare mandate. In a 2008 evaluation of state governors' fiscal policies, the libertarian Cato Institute praised Huntsman's conservative tax policies, ranking him in
364-795: A 2–0 Mexico victory over Honduras in the final. Since 2011, the stadium has played host to the XFINITY High School Football Challenge , a series of games that pits local teams Alta and Jordan against opponents from across the country. In the 2013 edition, the Alta Hawks took on the Bergen Catholic Crusaders of New Jersey , while the Jordan Beetdiggers faced the Allentown Redbirds , also of New Jersey. This game
455-421: A Xango Cup match a few days after the fact. On September 28, 2008, it was announced that the naming rights to the stadium were sold to international mining company Rio Tinto , owners of local mining operation Kennecott Utah Copper . A 15-year deal was set into place, worth between $ 1.5 million and $ 2 million per year. The stadium opened on October 9, 2008, in a Major League Soccer match between Real Salt Lake and
546-671: A billionaire through the company he founded, the Huntsman Corporation , which achieved breakthrough success in the 1970s manufacturing generic styrofoam cartons for McDonald's and other fast food companies and by the 1990s was one of the largest petrochemical companies in the United States. His mother is Karen ( née Haight) Huntsman, daughter of David B. Haight , an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Through his father, Huntsman
637-405: A center-right conservative . During his first term as Utah governor, Huntsman listed economic development, healthcare reform, education, and energy security as his top priorities. He oversaw tax cuts and advocated reorganizing the way that services were distributed so that the government would not become overwhelmed by the state's fast-growing population. Building a winning coalition to tackle
728-499: A congratulatory phone call with the president of Taiwan , Tsai Ing-wen , during his transition process. Huntsman said the critics were overreacting to Trump's decision to accept the phone call, and that Trump's nontraditional style might be an opportunity for a shift in Asia relations in future talks with China. In November 2016, Huntsman said he was considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2018, though he ultimately chose not to run for
819-656: A desire to avoid repeating past mistakes in the relationship, stating: "In the years past, every new administration has tried to reset or redo of some sort.(...) Let's not repeat the cycles of the past, because in every case,(...) those resets could not be sustained. Let's not even begin with that thought in mind; no resets, no redos. Just take the relationship for what it is, clear-eyed and realistically." Huntsman submitted his resignation as U.S. Ambassador to Russia to President Trump on August 6, 2019, with his resignation taking effect on October 3, 2019. After Huntsman left post, Bartle B. Gorman, deputy ambassador to Russia, served as
910-487: A funding proposal for the stadium, and the project was declared "dead" by owner Dave Checketts on January 29, putting the team's future in doubt. Parties from cities such as Rochester, New York , and St Louis, Missouri , expressed interest in purchasing the franchise and moving it, and Checketts announced that the team would likely be sold and moved out of the Salt Lake area by the end of the 2007 season. In response to
1001-494: A funding proposal for the stadium. However, Tom Dolan, the mayor of Sandy, said that he would not give up on his fight to approve the proposal in Sandy. The funding plan was revised, but was struck down later in 2006 over disagreements in the appropriation of millions of hotel-tax dollars for a financially unproven sports franchise. The proposal for Sandy was declared "dead" by Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts at that point, putting
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#17327902367521092-492: A maze of special-interest carve-outs, loopholes, and temporary provisions that cost taxpayers more than $ 400 billion a year to comply with". The candidate called for "[getting] rid of all tax expenditures, all loopholes, all deductions, all subsidies. Use that to lower rates across the board. And do it on a revenue-neutral basis". In addition, Huntsman has proposed reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%, eliminating corporate taxes on income earned overseas, and implementing
1183-733: A member of the Sigma Chi fraternity like his father. Jon Huntsman Jr. served as a missionary for the LDS Church in Taiwan for two years and later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania , graduating with a bachelor of arts in international politics in 1987. While Huntsman was visiting the White House in 1971 during his father's service as special assistant to U.S. president Richard Nixon , Henry Kissinger confided to
1274-582: A potential candidate for the 2012 election in March 2009. In August 2010, a group of political strategists close to Huntsman formed a political action committee called Horizon PAC. On February 22, 2011, Horizon PAC launched its official website, stating that it "supports free-market values, principled leadership and a commitment to long-term solutions". On January 31, 2011, Huntsman submitted his formal resignation from his post as U.S. Ambassador to China effective April 30, 2011, indicating his plans to return to
1365-415: A rate of either 5.9% or 4.8% between 2005 and 2009. The Utah Taxpayers Association estimates that "tax cuts from 2005 to 2007 totaled $ 407 million." Huntsman proposed eliminating the corporate franchise tax for small businesses making less than $ 5 million. During his term as governor, he was successful in having Utah replace its progressive income tax with a top rate of 7%, with a flat tax of 5%; cut
1456-436: A roof. The field dimensions are within the range found optimal by FIFA : 110–120 yards (100–110 m) long by 70–80 yards (64–75 m) wide. These soccer field dimensions are wider than the regulation American football field width of 53 + 1 ⁄ 3 yards (48.8 m), or the 65-yard (59 m) width of a Canadian football field. The playing surface typically consists of grass as opposed to artificial turf , as
1547-564: A score of 4–1, while in the second, Costa Rica pulled out a 1–0 win against Belize ; both games took place in front of a crowd of 17,597 spectators. On June 9, 2021, the USMNT defeated Costa Rica 4–0 in front of 19,007 fans at America First Field, in a friendly match played following the CONCACAF Nations League . The United States women's national soccer team has also played three matches against international opponents at
1638-642: A team of MLS All-Stars and Premier League side Everton . The game initially ended as a 1–1 tie, leading to a penalty shootout in which the English side emerged as champions. It was the first time that a foreign team had defeated the All-Stars since the creation of the game. Throughout 2010 and 2011, the stadium became one of the toughest venues to play at in Major League Soccer, with Real Salt Lake having an undefeated streak of 34 games at home. At
1729-405: A ten-year commitment from its next stadium naming rights partner. In September 2022, RSL announced a naming rights agreement with America First Credit Union with the stadium renamed America First Field. In 2005 a soccer-specific stadium for the team was approved for Sandy , a suburb of Salt Lake City . However, funding for the stadium was still hard to come by. A vote in early 2006 struck down
1820-541: A tie for fifth place on overall fiscal policy. He was particularly lauded for his efforts to cut taxes. The report specifically highlighted his reductions of the sales tax and simplification of the tax code. However the report concluded that: "Unfortunately, Huntsman has completely dropped the ball on spending, with per capita spending increasing at about 10 percent annually during his tenure." He defines his taxation policy as "business friendly". As part of his presidential campaign Huntsman said "our tax code has devolved into
1911-477: A year, would be diverted to the project. The bill was passed by the Senate, allowing for the club to announce the commencement of building what was then known as "RSL Stadium". The groundbreaking of the stadium took place on August 12, 2006, featuring elected leaders of the state of Utah, as well as team officials and the rosters of both Real Salt Lake and Spanish club Real Madrid , who were due to play each other in
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#17327902367522002-437: Is in comparison to the much larger American football stadiums that mostly range between 60,000 and 80,000 in which the original North American Soccer League teams played and most MLS teams occupied during the league's inception. As opposed to gridiron-style football stadiums, where the front row of seats is elevated several feet above the field of play to allow spectators to see over the heads of substitute players and coaches on
2093-589: Is particularly visible in European American football leagues and conflicts between teams sharing the stadium (a notable example are Eintracht Braunschweig and the Braunschweig Lions which share a stadium) and (often municipal) owners of the stadiums sometimes arise, leading to attempts at single sport-specific venues. In Australia the term has much the same meaning as that in the United States. The dominance of Australian rules football in
2184-616: Is sometimes used in countries where the sport is known as football rather than soccer, although the term is not common in countries where football is the dominant sport and thus football-specific stadiums are quite common. The term tends to have a slightly different meaning in these countries, usually referring to a stadium without an athletics track surrounding the field. Some soccer stadiums in Europe are also used for other sports, including rugby, American football, and field hockey. The problem with oversized stadiums designed for another sport
2275-541: Is the great-great-great-grandson of early LDS Church leader Parley P. Pratt . In 1975, Huntsman earned the rank of Eagle Scout , the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America . He attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City but dropped out before graduating to perform as a keyboard player in a rock band. Huntsman later obtained a G.E.D. and enrolled at the University of Utah , where he became
2366-514: The 2008 Republican National Convention , Huntsman delivered a nominating speech for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin , the party's nominee for vice president. Huntsman also helped raise more than $ 500,000 for McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. Speaking about McCain's loss, Huntsman later observed, "We're fundamentally staring down a demographic shift that we've never seen before in America". President Barack Obama nominated Jon Huntsman to serve as
2457-498: The 2009 MLS All-Star Game , the second leg of the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Finals , and the final of the 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup . It was also a host stadium during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup , and a host for final stages of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship . Rio Tinto 's sponsorship of the stadium was set to expire in December of 2020 but retained its branding through 2021. Real Salt Lake sought
2548-634: The 2020 election . In the six weeks between Huntsman's announcement and the end of 2019, Huntsman's campaign raised $ 520,000, and visited all 29 Utah counties. His daughter, Abby Huntsman , announced in January 2020 that she would leave her position on The View to join his gubernatorial campaign as a senior advisor. On February 7, 2020, Huntsman announced that Provo city mayor Michelle Kaufusi would be his gubernatorial running mate. A poll taken among likely voters in February showed Huntsman leading
2639-586: The Atlantic Council . Huntsman indicated in an interview with Politico that he would not run in the 2016 presidential election . In April 2016, Huntsman decided to endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump , but later retracted his endorsement of Trump following the Access Hollywood controversy . However, Huntsman later defended Trump in interviews with Fox News and The New York Times after Trump received criticism for accepting
2730-582: The Blue Line of UTA TRAX ; the nearest station is Sandy Expo on 9400 South. Soccer-specific stadium A soccer-specific stadium , mainly in the United States and Canada, is a sports stadium either purpose-built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multi-purpose stadium which is for a variety of sports. A soccer-specific stadium may host other sporting events (such as lacrosse , American football and rugby ) and concerts, but
2821-578: The Bush administration . In mid-August, three-term incumbent governor Mike Leavitt , who Huntsman strongly supported, decided not to run for re-election in order to become EPA administrator in the Bush administration. Shortly thereafter, Huntsman filed papers to run for Governor of Utah . In the June 2004 Republican primary, Huntsman defeated State Representative Nolan Karras 66–34%. In November 2004, Huntsman
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2912-480: The New York Red Bulls . Because the stadium was under construction throughout 2008 and did not open until late in the year, most of Real Salt Lake's 2008 season was spent in their original home at Rice-Eccles Stadium , on the grounds of the University of Utah in downtown Salt Lake City . The first match (and first event overall) held within the stadium was a Major League Soccer match between RSL and
3003-706: The United States Ambassador to China on May 16, 2009, noting his experience in the region and proficiency in Mandarin Chinese . His nomination was formally delivered to the Senate on July 6, 2009, and on July 23, 2009, he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , which favorably reported his nomination to the full Senate on August 4, 2009. On August 7, 2009, the Senate unanimously confirmed Huntsman and he formally resigned as governor of Utah and
3094-455: The presidency of Ronald Reagan to the first Donald Trump administration . He began his career as a White House staff assistant for Ronald Reagan , and was appointed deputy assistant secretary of commerce and U.S. ambassador to Singapore by George H. W. Bush . Later as deputy U.S. trade representative under George W. Bush , he launched global trade negotiations in Doha in 2001 and guided
3185-404: The 1990s, after the multi-purpose stadium era. The term "soccer-specific stadium" was coined by Lamar Hunt , who financed the construction of Columbus Crew Stadium , the first soccer-specific stadium constructed specifically for Major League Soccer. In the 2000s, other Major League Soccer teams in the United States began constructing their own stadiums. Canada's first soccer-specific stadium
3276-405: The 2012 race, Huntsman suggested there was a need for a third party in the United States, stating that "the real issues [were] not being addressed, and it's time that we put forward an alternative vision." Huntsman said that he would not run as a third-party presidential candidate in 2012. In early July, Huntsman announced that he would not be attending the 2012 Republican National Convention for
3367-535: The Debt Review Committee of Salt Lake County voted against the stadium proposal 4–0 on January 26, 2007, citing what they saw as Real Salt Lake's financial inviability as the reasoning behind the lack of support. County Mayor Corroon concurred with the DRC and the stadium plan was effectively killed on January 29, 2007. In response Real Salt Lake's owner announced the team would be sold and likely move out of
3458-543: The New York Red Bulls on October 9, 2008, which ended in a 1–1 draw between the two in front of a then-sellout crowd of 20,008 people. A few weeks later, the stadium also played host to the first playoff game in RSL history against Chivas USA , in which the home side ended up winning 1–0 in front of another sellout crowd. On July 29, 2009, the stadium played host to the 2009 Major League Soccer All-Star Game between
3549-463: The Salt Lake area after the 2007 season. The Sandy Stadium proposal was not completely dead, however: a new stadium proposal was made on February 2, that would divert 15 percent, roughly $ 2 million a year, of the county's hotel taxes to the stadium project beginning in July until 2017. Such a deal would have to have been made by February 9, or the deal would have been completely off. The bill was passed by
3640-631: The State Senate. After Governor Huntsman made a move that would allow the team to remain in Salt Lake County: the Utah House approved House bill 1SHB38, by a 48–24 margin, effectively approving $ 35 million towards the development of Real Salt Lake's new home. The governor was expected to sign the bill, and ultimately did so. Sandy City, along with the state of Utah and representatives of the team, finally came to an agreement regarding
3731-478: The States. Following his term as governor, Utah was also named a top-three state to do business in. The 2006 Cato Institute evaluation gave Huntsman an overall fiscal policy grade of "B"; the institute gave him an "A" on tax policy and an "F" on spending policy. Depending on the methodology used, Utah was either the top-ranked state or fourth-ranked state in the nation for job growth during Huntsman's tenure, with
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3822-636: The U.S. ambassador to Russia under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019. While governor of Utah, Huntsman was named chair of the Western Governors Association and joined the executive committee of the National Governors Association . Under his leadership, Utah was named the best-managed state in America by the Pew Center on the States . During his tenure, Huntsman was one of the most popular governors in
3913-446: The U.S. election " in 2016. He also said the relationship between the two countries was "among the most consequential and complex foreign policy challenges we face." Huntsman was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, via voice vote, on September 28, 2017. During his time as ambassador, Huntsman reported having access to senior Russian officials, which he stated was not always the case during his ambassadorship to China. He also expressed
4004-458: The United States at that time. Huntsman's associates indicated that he was likely to explore a 2012 Republican presidential bid. On May 3, 2011, he formed an official fundraising political action committee , building on the efforts of the previously established Horizon PAC. On May 18, 2011, Huntsman opened his 2012 national campaign headquarters in Orlando, Florida. Huntsman formally entered
4095-663: The United States. This massive school-choice program provides scholarships ranging from $ 500 to $ 3000 to help parents send their children to the private school of their choice. The program was open to all current public school children, as well as some children already in private school." The voucher law was later repealed in a public referendum. Huntsman was one of John McCain 's earliest supporters in his 2008 presidential campaign . Huntsman helped McCain campaign in New Hampshire and other early primary states and went with him to Iraq twice including over Thanksgiving in 2007. At
4186-624: The accession of China into the World Trade Organization . He served as CEO of Huntsman Family Holdings, a private entity that held the stock the family owned in Huntsman Corporation . He has also served as a board member of Huntsman Corporation, and as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Huntsman is the only American ambassador to have served in both Russia and China, having been the U.S. ambassador to China under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011 and as
4277-409: The club since its inaugural season. Other major sponsors within the stadium include Maverik, Vivint , Budweiser , and Zions Bank . The stadium is located near the interchange between US Highway 89 (State Street) and Utah State Route 209 (9000 South), and is easily accessible from Interstate 15 ; however, parking near the stadium is very limited. The stadium is also accessible by light rail via
4368-497: The commission's analysis, the U.S. has lost up to $ 600 billion in illicit technology transfers to China. According to Huntsman, The vast, illicit transfer of American innovation is one of the most significant economic issues impacting U.S. competitiveness that the nation has not fully addressed. It ... must be a top priority of the new administration [in 2016]. On December 3, 2016, the Associated Press reported Huntsman
4459-612: The construction of Real Salt Lake Stadium, which would ultimately be named Rio Tinto Stadium. The groundbreaking, coinciding with the Xango Cup, Real's match against international power Real Madrid , took place that afternoon featuring elected leaders, team officials, as well as the entire rosters of both Real Salt Lake and Real Madrid. On August 15, the deal was officially approved by the Salt Lake County Council. The stadium plan encountered difficulties however after
4550-486: The country, and won reelection in a landslide in 2008 , winning every single county. He left office with approval ratings over 80 percent and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert . He was an unsuccessful candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination . He ran for governor again in 2020 , but narrowly lost in the Republican primary to Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox . Huntsman now serves as
4641-487: The design and purpose of a soccer-specific stadium is primarily for soccer. Some facilities (for example SeatGeek Stadium , Toyota Stadium and Historic Crew Stadium ) have a permanent stage at one end of the stadium used for staging concerts. A soccer-specific stadium typically has amenities, dimensions and scale suitable for soccer in North America, including a scoreboard, video screen, luxury suites and possibly
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#17327902367524732-590: The eleven-year-old that he was secretly traveling to China . Jon Huntsman Jr. worked as a White House staff assistant in Reagan administration in 1983. From 1987 to 1988, Huntsman and his family lived and worked in Taipei , Taiwan. Huntsman and Enid Greene Mickelsen were co-directors of Reagan's campaign in Utah. During the 1988 presidential election , he was a state delegate at the 1988 Republican National Convention . Under President George H. W. Bush , Huntsman
4823-521: The embassy's Chargé d’Affaires (until the arrival of John J. Sullivan as new ambassador). After his resignation as U.S. ambassador to Russia in August 2019, many speculated that Huntsman was considering another run for Utah governor. An October 2019 poll of likely Utah voters showed Huntsman as a favorite among several potential gubernatorial candidates. On November 14, 2019, Huntsman announced on KSL Radio that he would run for Governor of Utah in
4914-507: The first time since he attended as a Reagan delegate in 1984; he stated he would "not be attending this year's convention, nor any Republican convention in the future until the party focuses on a bigger, bolder, more confident future for the United States—a future based on problem solving, inclusiveness, and a willingness to address the trust deficit, which is every bit as corrosive as our fiscal and economic deficits." Shortly after Obama
5005-512: The game 1–0, and thanks to a 2–2 draw back in Mexico during the first leg, Monterrey were declared the champions on aggregate score. The stadium hosted the final of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup between RSL and D.C. United on October 1, 2013, with the away side winning the cup 1–0 in front of over 17,000 spectators. As home to the Utah Royals , America First Field also boasts hosting
5096-415: The latter is generally disfavored for soccer matches since players are more susceptible to injuries. However, some soccer specific stadiums, such as Portland's Providence Park and Creighton University's Morrison Stadium , do have artificial turf. The seating capacity is generally between 18,000 and 30,000 for a Major League Soccer franchise, or smaller for college or minor league soccer teams. This
5187-445: The looming fiscal and trust deficits will be impossible [for Republicans] if we continue to alienate broad segments of the population. We must be happy warriors who refuse to tolerate those who want Hispanic votes but not Hispanic neighbors. During his time as Utah governor, Huntsman proposed a plan to reform healthcare, mainly through the private sector, by using tax breaks and negotiation to keep prices down. In 2007, when asked about
5278-614: The lower tier state league clubs own their own venues which also qualify as soccer specific. Jon Huntsman Jr. Jon Meade Huntsman Jr. (born March 26, 1960) is an American businessman, diplomat, and politician who served as the 16th governor of Utah from 2005 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party , he served as the ambassador of the United States to Russia from 2017 to 2019, ambassador to China from 2009 to 2011, and ambassador to Singapore from 1992 to 1993. Huntsman served in every presidential administration from
5369-414: The new stadium. The stadium's opening date was set for October 9, 2008, when Real Salt Lake hosted the New York Red Bulls . After considering sites in downtown Salt Lake City , Vineyard, and Provo, a soccer-specific stadium for Real Salt Lake was approved for the city of Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City, in late 2005; however, funding for the stadium was hard to come by. A vote in January 2006 struck down
5460-521: The office of President." Huntsman focused his energy and resources on the New Hampshire primary. On October 18, 2011, he boycotted the Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, out of deference to New Hampshire, which was locked in a political scheduling fight with Nevada. Huntsman eventually finished third in New Hampshire, and announced the end of his campaign on January 16, 2012. He endorsed Mitt Romney at that time. A month after dropping out of
5551-526: The owners of the local Kennecott Utah Copper mining company and its Bingham Canyon Mine on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley . A 10-year naming deal was signed, valued at around $ 1.5 million to $ 2 million a year. The stadium bore the Rio Tinto name even after its naming rights agreement with the company expired, until inking a new deal with America First Credit Union , already a sponsor of
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#17327902367525642-546: The placement of the Real stadium. The deal was shot down about a week prior to the agreement by the Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon saying it was too risky. However, Utah's governor, Jon Huntsman Jr. said that soccer was here to stay. The $ 110 million stadium was built in Sandy , a suburb of Salt Lake City. Rossetti's California office was the architecture firm responsible for the design of
5733-431: The planned protest, and happened to be strolling through the area on a family outing. Huntsman resigned from his position as ambassador, effective April 30, 2011, in order to return to the United States to explore a 2012 presidential bid . Huntsman's name appeared on lists of potential Republican nominees for the 2012 presidential election as early as 2008 and 2009, and John McCain specifically mentioned Huntsman as
5824-579: The race for the Republican presidential nomination on June 21, 2011, announcing his bid in a speech at Liberty State Park in New Jersey , with the Statue of Liberty in the background—the same site where Ronald Reagan launched his campaign in 1980 . Huntsman sought to establish himself as an anti- negative candidate and take the "high road". In his announcement, he also stated "I don't think you need to run down someone's reputation in order to run for
5915-409: The race with 32% support, while 31% remained undecided. However, Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox ultimately won the primary with 36.4% of the vote against Huntsman's 34.6%, and went on to win the general election. Huntsman has been described as "a conservative technocrat -optimist with moderate positions who was willing to work substantively with President Barack Obama " and identifies himself as
6006-615: The rejection of the stadium plan, local construction company Anderson Geneva offered the club 30 acres (12 ha) of land on which to build the stadium just east of Interstate 15 in Sandy for free, at an estimated loss on the price of the land at US$ 10 million. The move prompted the club to make a new proposal to the Utah State Senate on February 2, 2006, in which 15% of the hotel taxes collected in Salt Lake County between July 2007 and 2017, equaling about US$ 2 million
6097-517: The seat. Huntsman was the co-chair of the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property, along with Dennis C. Blair . The commission is an independent and bipartisan initiative from the public and private sectors. Its mission is to document and assess the extent of international intellectual property theft , particularly by China, and propose appropriate policy responses. According to
6188-576: The second highest attendance in the NWSL, third highest of any professional women's team in America. In 2021, America First Field also hosted home matches for Vancouver Whitecaps FC as COVID-19 cross-border restrictions imposed by the Canadian government prevented the team from playing matches in Canada. In January 2022, the stadium and Real Salt Lake were sold to David Blitzer and Ryan Smith . Since
6279-490: The sidelines, soccer-specific venues typically have the front row closer to the level of the pitch. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, first-division professional soccer leagues in the United States, such as the North American Soccer League and Major League Soccer, primarily used American football fields, many of which were oversized in terms of seating capacity and undersized in terms of the width of
6370-515: The soccer field; they often used artificial turf (none of which, at the time, were approved for international soccer under FIFA rules). Although many of the baseball parks had smaller capacities, natural grass, and a wider field, these parks were generally in use during summer, when North American–based soccer leagues, such as Major League Soccer, also hold their seasons, and the irregular field dimensions and sightlines were often considered undesirable. Soccer-specific stadiums first came into use in
6461-633: The southern states means that unlike in New South Wales and Queensland , rectangular stadiums and grounds capable of hosting top level A-League soccer are rare. Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, South Australia is an example of such a soccer-specific stadium, being built in the 1960s and progressively updated, the vast majority of matches played there are soccer, with very rare Rugby League or Rugby Union games. The Wyndham City Stadium and Wyndham Regional Football Facility are also examples. Many of
6552-551: The stadium hosted the United States men's national team and French team Stade Toulousain , one of the most successful clubs in Europe, a game which "the Eagles" won 24–21. On June 28th, 2024 America First Field hosted a record crowd for a Utah Warriors match with 10,900 fans in attendance. On September 20, 2008, it was announced that the naming rights to the stadium would be awarded to international mining company Rio Tinto ,
6643-408: The stadium on June 18, 2013, in a fourth-round qualifier game for the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Honduras ; the home side once again won at the stadium, this time a 1–0 victory in front of 20,250 people. The stadium was used as a host stadium during the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup , and hosted two back-to-back games for Group C on July 13, 2013. In the first game, the United States defeated Cuba by
6734-426: The stadium opened its doors, it has become a very popular place for the United States men's national soccer team to play matches against regional opponents. The first match held by the team at the stadium took place on September 9, 2009, against El Salvador , in a fourth-round qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup ; the game ended in a 2–1 victory for the home side in front of 19,000 spectators. The team returned to
6825-483: The stadium. The first game was played on March 31, 2010, as a friendly match against Mexico ; in the first winter game ever played by the US team, the home side ended up winning the match 1–0, thanks to a second half goal by Abby Wambach . The second game took place as another friendly match on June 30, 2012, against Canada ; once again, the home side ended up winning the game, 2–1, in front of 16,800 spectators. The third game
6916-628: The state budget rose from $ 8.28 to 11.57 billion. Huntsman supported cap and trade policies, and as governor, signed the Western Climate Initiative . He also supported an increase in the federal minimum wage . He also cut some regulations, including Utah's very strict alcohol laws . In 2007, he signed into law the Parent Choice in Education Act, which he said was "the largest school-voucher bill to date in
7007-443: The statewide sales tax rate from 4.75% to 4.65% and sales tax on unprepared food from 4.70% to 1.75%; and raise motor vehicle registration fees . He proposed a 400% increase in cigarette taxes , but the measure was never signed into law. In 2008, he successively proposed tax credits for families purchasing their own health insurance, as well as income tax credits for capital gains and solar projects. During Huntsman's administration,
7098-557: The team's future in doubt. Checketts said that he wanted the team to remain in Utah, but would sell it if a proposal was not put forward by August 12, 2006. Parties from several cities, including Rochester, New York and St. Louis, Missouri, expressed interest in purchasing the franchise and moving it. Other stadium sites in the area were also proposed, including the Utah State Fairgrounds in Salt Lake City, and
7189-569: The time, it was the longest undefeated streak achieved by any team in MLS history; the record has since been broken by the Houston Dynamo , who won their 35th home game on April 14, 2013. On April 27, 2011, the stadium played host to the second leg of the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League Finals between RSL and Liga MX club CF Monterrey , for the chance to represent the continent at the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup . The Mexican side ended up winning
7280-456: The tiny town of Vineyard , just west of Provo . Finally, on the very day Checketts had set as a deadline to have a stadium plan in place or decide to sell the team, and after months of up and down discussions with local municipalities, county, and state officials and a change in the funding structure, a tacit agreement between Checketts, Sandy City, and Salt Lake County was put in place, and Real Salt Lake announced that they would move forward with
7371-501: Was BMO Field in Toronto , home to Toronto FC . This stadium was renovated to accommodate Canadian football for the 2016 and subsequent seasons. The distinction is less prominent in Canada, where MLS's attendance figures are comparable to those of the domestic Canadian Football League , and the CFL's wider field means fewer compromises must be made to accommodate both; Tim Hortons Field
7462-536: Was re-elected as president , Obama's campaign manager Jim Messina suggested that the Obama campaign believed Huntsman would have been a particularly difficult candidate to face in the general election. Messina said that the campaign was "honest about our concerns about Huntsman" and that Huntsman "would have been a very tough candidate". In January 2014, Huntsman was named chairman of the Atlanticist think-tank
7553-413: Was a friendly match on September 13, 2014, against Mexico ; the home side ended up winning 8–0. Additionally, the stadium hosted the 4 knockout stage matches of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship . These included a 2–0 Honduras victory over the United States and a 2–0 Mexico victory over Canada in the semifinals, then a 2–0 United States victory over Canada in the third place game and
7644-410: Was a strong possibility Huntsman would be appointed to be the new U.S. ambassador to China . In March, Huntsman reportedly turned down the nomination to be the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia . On March 28, Bush appointed Huntsman to be one of two Deputy United States trade representatives in his administration ; he served in this role from 2001 to 2003. In March 2003, Huntsman resigned his post in
7735-679: Was also used as the site of the 2011 USA Rugby Championship, in which UC-Berkeley defeated BYU 21–14 in front of 11,000 fans. The following year BYU faced Arkansas State University in the final, defeating them. In May 2014, the Varsity Cup Collegiate Rugby National Championship final match saw BYU defeat UC-Berkeley 43–33 in front of 10,172 fans. Utah Warriors played an exhibition game against Glendale Raptors at America First Field on March 30, 2018, ahead of their inaugural Major League Rugby season in front of 9,186 fans. In September 2023
7826-538: Was being considered by Donald Trump and the Trump transition team as a possible choice for United States Secretary of State in 2017, although Rex Tillerson was chosen 10 days later. On March 8, 2017, it was reported that Huntsman accepted a position as United States Ambassador to Russia . During his Senate confirmation hearings, he said, "There is no question that the Russian Government interfered in
7917-450: Was built purposely to both soccer specifications and CFL regulations. Of the three Canadian cities that host both MLS and CFL teams, only one (Montreal) has separate stadiums for each. All USL Championship teams and USL League One teams will be required to play in self-owned, soccer-specific stadiums by the 2022 season. The following is a list of current USL stadiums that are soccer-specific stadiums: The term "football-specific stadium"
8008-709: Was deputy assistant secretary in the International Trade Administration from 1989 to 1990. He served as deputy assistant secretary of commerce for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, from 1990 to 1991. In June 1992, Bush appointed Huntsman as U.S. ambassador to Singapore , and he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in August. At 32 years old, he became the youngest U.S. Ambassador to serve in over 100 years. In January 2001, after George W. Bush took office as president, The Washington Post reported there
8099-630: Was discontinued after the 2013 edition. The stadium has also hosted the Zion's Bank Top of the Mountains Bowl , a bowl game of the NJCAA , since 2008. This game was discontinued after the 2011 edition. America First Field has been used on several occasions for rugby matches. The USA Eagles defeated Uruguay 43–9 in front of 5,060 fans in 2008. The first college rugby match in the stadium took place between college sides BYU and Utah in March 2010, and
8190-409: Was elected with 58% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party nominee Scott Matheson Jr. In 2008, Huntsman won re-election with 77.7% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Bob Springmeyer . Huntsman maintained high approval ratings as governor of Utah, reaching 90% approval at times. He left office with his approval ratings over 80%. Utah was named the best managed state by the Pew Center on
8281-556: Was sworn in as ambassador to China on August 11, 2009. Huntsman arrived in Beijing on August 21, 2009, to begin his assignment, and he delivered his first press conference on August 22 after a meeting with Commerce Minister Chen Deming . In February 2011, Huntsman made a controversial appearance at the site of a planned pro-democracy protest in Beijing. The spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in China stated that Huntsman had been unaware of
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