Sunday was a big day for Real Salt Lake. The club was in the national spotlight, as RSL hosted its first soccer Sunday match of the season broadcast on Fox Sports 1. RSL defeated Toronto FC by 2-1. But the most memorable part of Sunday was not the win or the national spotlight, it was what happened prior to the match that made the day even more special.
Devon Sandoval makes his living on the Rio Tinto Stadium pitch, and it was there where he decided it was the perfect place to ask the most important question of his life. Two hours prior to RSL’s match, Devon took his long-time girlfriend, Cristin Anderson, to the middle of the pitch, got down on one knee and with ring in hand, asked Cristin to be his wife.
Cristin said yes.
The moment was witnessed by Sandoval’s teammates and RSL manager Jeff Caasar, all watching the moment from the stands. The moment was displayed on RSL’s new high-definition scoreboard.
Fox Sports 1’s Julie Stewart-Binks was at the stadium, and during the broadcast reported that Sandoval decided to propose on Tuesday after listening to some Bob Marley records.
“Devon, you got to do this” was Sandoval’s thought after listening to Marley and then went out and bought a ring. Stewart-Binks reported that the reason why Sandoval chose Rio Tinto Stadium to propose is because Real Salt Lake has meant so much to both him and his fiancée as well as the fact that RSL has welcomed them with open arms since day one.
Sandoval played all 90 minutes of RSL’s 2-1 win over Toronto FC.
The sun shined bright on Sunday for Real Salt Lake in its nationally broadcast win, but what shined the most was Devon Sandoval and Cristin’s happiness — along with Cristin’s engagement ring.
Love is in the air at Rio Tinto. #RSL's Devon Sandoval had an important question to ask before the game. #MLS Watch: http://t.co/beHPT9rl9Y
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 29, 2015
Xoel Càrdenas, MA, is a writer with Deseret News: Sports. Xoel is also a columnist at SB Nation and a contributor to FoxDeportes.com. Follow him on Twitter @XoelCardenas.