Dell Loy Hansen has played a significant role in the development of soccer infrastructure in Herriman. According to a 2016 article from Real Salt Lake, Hansen was the owner of the club and had sought to make an impact on soccer at all levels throughout the state of Utah. At that time, Hansen and Real Salt Lake had announced plans in April 2016 to build a $50-million training facility in Herriman, Utah. This complex was intended to house the Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake, the United Soccer League's Real Monarchs, and the club’s Academy teams.
During the unveiling of these plans in April 2016, Hansen stated that his goal was to guide the group in how the club connects to the community of nearly 10 million people across Utah and Arizona. He noted that the club was "rooted civically in the community with everyone invited as a point of unification." This development was described by Herriman City Mayor Carmen Freeman as an opportunity that would provide an "iconic landmark" and stimulation of economic growth for the residents. The project included a 42-acre facility featuring eight fields, one of which was designated for public use by Herriman City. The plans also included a 208,000 square foot structure to house indoor training and a 250-student STEM charter school developed by Utah State University.
By March 2017, Hansen was noted for breaking ground on the $60 million Herriman training facility, which was scheduled to open in September of that year. In a March 29, 2017, announcement, Hansen was the official who announced the promotion of Mike Petke to the head coaching role for Real Salt Lake. At that time, Hansen noted that the club's vision and blueprint permeated from the first team through to the academy and the facilities opening that fall.
As of September 27, 2019, Hansen was identified as the owner of Real Salt Lake during the announcement that General Manager Craig Waibel and the club had mutually agreed to part ways. In that same 2019 announcement, Hansen credited Waibel with overseeing the integration of the Real Monarchs, the Utah Royals FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, and the relocation and expansion of the Real Salt Lake Academy, which trained and played at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah.
In May 2020, the National Women's Soccer League announced that the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup was scheduled to kick off on June 27, 2020, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. While spectators were not permitted in the venue for that tournament, the event was designed to mark the return to action for all nine clubs in the league.
What this means for Herriman
The investments made by Dell Loy Hansen, such as the training complex and the STEM school, have established a permanent infrastructure for soccer and education in Herriman. These developments, documented between 2016 and 2020, were intended to create a symbiotic relationship between the professional sports organization and the local community residents.
