With just Real Salt Lake around, it seemed like Salt Lake City produced a lot of soccer — a minimum of 17 home matches over the nine-month season — but 2015 will see that number catapulted forward.
2015 will see a minimum of 34 home matches (assuming the MLS collective bargaining agreement is completed before the season starts) between Real Salt Lake and Real Monarchs, each at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The longest gap between home matches is a dizzying two weeks between first-team outings against Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City. That one could be chopped, though, with the potential for a hosted fourth-round U.S. Open Cup match in the offing. The shortest gap between home matches happens twice — there'll be only one open day between games, once in April and again in August.
It's pretty remarkable, but looking at August makes it seem even more so. There are six scheduled matches in August, but more could crop up with Real Salt Lake taking part in CONCACAF Champions League in 2015 (and 2016, they'll hope, with knockout rounds spilling over into the new year).
Playoffs for either team will intensify the fervor even further — between those and U.S. Open Cup play, it wouldn't be unrealistic to see 40 home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. If you were to spread that over the full year, you would average one match every nine days.
With Rio Tinto selling out week after week for Real Salt Lake matches, the minor-league Real Monarchs could provide plentiful opportunities to see live soccer in Utah. It does come with some risk for the organization and both clubs, though.
First, the wear and tear on the field at Rio Tinto will be at an all-time high. Grounds crew members will have their work cut out for them — keeping that grass looking green and carpet-like is a task of the highest order already, and it'll be even more so now.
Second, both teams will have to build rosters capable of withstanding a flurry of matches in short periods. This is especially the case with some players likely to be shared between the two teams. So while the depth of Real Salt Lake is probably boosted by such an arrangement, it won't make matters easier for Real Monarchs at the busiest of times.
Finally, the marketing side of the organization will have to be focused and ready for a new challenge. Selling tickets for one club isn't always easy, but it doesn't come with the challenge of a cheaper competing product always available. There's plenty of opportunity there, but it comes with a modicum of risk.
Matt Montgomery is the managing editor of RSL Soapbox. Contact him at montgomery.matt@gmail.com.