Utah Blitzz coach Chris Agnello says "fantastic" a lot. He uses it to describe his coaching staff, Rice-Eccles Stadium, the 18 Blitzz soccer players he's signed and his competition.
And why shouldn't Agnello be excited. He's spent the last year prepping for outdoor professional soccer's return to Utah, and the season is a little over a month away.
"They've certainly made my job easy," Agnello said of his staff at a Thursday news conference. "But they've also put pressure on me because now we have to put a good team on the field."
Agnello, a former Portland University player, is expected to announce the inaugural 18 Blitzz players in two weeks, and in addition to about eight local players, Utah fans can expect athletes from such foreign countries as Northern Ireland, Argentina and Brazil.
Utah's first game is April 22 at Chico (Calif.), last year's Division 3 second-place team. In fact, the Blitzz's first five games are all on the road. The early-season road trip is to accommodate the necessary expansion of Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah's temporary home during its first season.
When Agnello and owner Dell Nichols first announced that Utah was receiving a pro soccer team last September, their plan was to build a soccer-specific stadium by May. Some unforeseen problems with swaplands at the West Valley City site has delayed construction, hence Utah's temporary summer rental of Rice-Eccles Stadium.
In order to bring the playing surface up to U.S. Soccer regulations, the field has to be widened to 70 yards from its present 50 yards. The expansion will cost about $150,000 and will be performed by RBI out of Denver.
Rice-Eccles Stadium director Mark Burke said the expansion will begin next week and should be completed on schedule to accommodate Utah's first home game, a May 19 date with the Stanislaus United Cruisers. Even though the Blitzz are only expected to play on the U. campus for one season, Burke is excited about the future of soccer on the Hill.
"When we're done, we'll have a U.S. Soccer representative come in so we can bid on future U.S. Soccer matches," said Burke.
And that's really the vision of Burke, Nichols and Agnello — to see soccer grow in Utah and bring elite-level players to Utah. "Ultimately our goal is to make it to Major League Soccer," said Agnello.
Utah might not be at the MLS level just yet, but fans won't have to wait to watch an MLS team play in Utah this year. The Blitzz are working on scheduling an MLS opponent, and the game will be played either June 7th or 28th.
The Blitzz will play 12 home games this year, and season ticket information can be obtained on the internet at www.utahblitzz.com.