XANGOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
At XANGO, it’s more than just health, wellness and prosperity: Sometimes it’s a little bit of soccer, too. Since 2006, XANGO and Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake have been in business together. What began as a brief collaboration in the 2006 XANGO cup has evolved into an over five-year partnership with the team. The jersey-front sponsorship has contributed toward better practice facilities and a stronger fan base for Real and some pretty great name recognition for XANGO. Not to mention sheer love for the team.
Olé, olé, olé, olé... Real Salt Lake.
“For the players, you have to put a name there that you are comfortable with.” - Dave Checketts, RSL Founder & Co-owner
In November 2006 XANGO unveiled an unprecedented development in U.S. professional sports by announcing a landmark jersey-front sponsorship with Real Salt Lake.
The multiyear deal includes signage and promotional opportunities at the team’s home venue, Rio Tinto Stadium, in Sandy, Utah. Select Adidas/RSL training and off-field gear also promote the XANGO/RSL partnership. And each year, Real Salt Lake's international exhibition calendar will feature the XANGO Cup: a friendly match between RSL and an invited guest from leagues all over the world. The inaugural cup in 2006—between RSL and international fútbol icon Real Madrid—drew more than 45,000 fans and 250,000 television viewers domestically.
Today, XANGO Nation travels with Real Salt Lake in dozens of states and multiple countries, including key domestic and international markets through television stations, internet, radio and even gaming consoles.
Utah’s professional sports landscape changed forever in July 2004 with the historic announcement that Salt Lake City would be home to the nine-year-old league’s 12th team—Real Salt Lake—the second major league sports organization in the state.
One year later, in November, Real Salt Lake became the first professional U.S. sports team to sign a jersey-front sponsor, with XANGO, LLC. Soon after joining forces with XANGO, the team began practicing on XANGO Field, located on the XANGO campus in Lehi, Utah.
Under the management of GM Garth Lagerway and Coach Jason Kreis, the team has accomplished more than the average organization could hope for. In only their 5th season, Real Salt Lake won the that year’s championship, the MLS Cup, by defeating L.A. Galaxy. RSL’s mantra is something that resonates within XANGO, too: “THE TEAM IS THE STAR.”
As the event that first brought XANGO and Real Salt Lake together, the XANGO Cup proved to be the foundation of a mutually beneficial partnership. Since then, several XANGO Cups have been held, giving Real Salt Lake the valuable opportunity to match wits and kicks with the best in the world.
Real Madrid
Viewers worldwide tuned in and 45,000+ people crowded into Rice-Eccles Stadium for the inaugural XANGO Cup. People came from all over the United States and more than 25 countries to Salt Lake City to see this match (and, presumably, to Real Madrid’s own Sir David Beckham). The hometown underdogs stepped up their game to meet the visiting Galácticos head-on.
England Everton FC and Argentina Boca Juniors
The 2nd XANGO Cup was a 2-match, 3-nation affair, and over 28,000 fans attended. The two-century-old squads—England’s Premier Club Everton FC and Argentina’s Copa Libertadores Champions Boca Juniors—traveled thousands of miles to tread the turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium against Real Salt Lake.
Santos Laguna
After bringing in clubs from Spain, England and Argentina, the third XANGO Cup featured its first North American opponent: the reigning Mexican Clausura champions, Santos Laguna. (And even though it was a home match for RSL, the proximity of Santos’s home nation translated to about a 50/50 split in fans.)
Club América
In a successful effort to re-create the same competitive spark of the previous year's matchup, XANGO and Real Salt Lake invited Mexican mega-club Club América for the 4th XANGO Cup. As the richest and second-most decorated team in México, they presented a world-class challenge and a major draw.