It was two hours that revealed so much about what Utah Royals FC are right now. The 19,203-person crowd that assembled at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 14 spoke to the roots the NWSL’s newest team were already laying around the club. Though the atmosphere in the stands was still in its infancy, the material for growth was abundant. Real Salt Lake’s NWSL venture had successfully mobilized their community for game one.
On the field, though, the realities of year one were apparent. Against a Chicago Red Stars team that was handcuffed by a series of debilitating absences, Utah’s attack failed to launch.