The Real Salt Lake organization sent an email to season ticket holders Friday with options on how to use their tickets for the remainder of the 2020 seasons for RSL, Utah Royals FC and the Real Monarchs — all which have either returned or will soon return to play after their seasons were truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most pertinent portion of the email, obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune, is the option outlining a way for fans to watch the semifinal and final rounds of the National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup, which currently does not allow spectators.
“In the event that league and government health officials authorize a limited number of fans to attend these three matches, then we will extend the first opportunity to purchase tickets to our season ticket members,” the email reads.
If all goes well and fans are allowed, they could attend the two semifinal matches and the final at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 22 and July 26, respectively. Season ticket holders will be given priority to purchase those tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
The NWSL, however, says its plans to play without fans have not changed.
“Our current plans call for no fan participation in-person,” a league spokesperson wrote in an email. “In partnership with the players associations, we continuously review those plans and will make any decisions going forward with the health and safety of NWSL players, officials and staff as the number one priority.”
The email comes just one day after the organization announced up to 5,300 fans will be allowed to attend the Monarchs home opener July 11. It’s the first North American sports competition to allow spectators.
In light of the Monarchs news, an RSL spokesperson told The Tribune on Thursday that the organization was “hopeful” fans could attend the last two rounds of the Challenge Cup, which will be held at Rio Tinto Stadium.
When the NWSL tournament was announced in June, Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen said Utah health officials had approved a plan allowing 900 fans to attend games at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. But that never came to pass.
