Salt Lake City -- The Salt Lake City Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) was recognized by Connect Sports as one of the best soccer facilities in the United States. It is no surprise that the RAC, with its 16 sand-based fields on 140 acres of land in the heart of Salt Lake City, received the second spot on a ranked list of nine athletic facilities across the country.
The RAC officially opened in April 2016 and, in its two-year existence, has hosted dozens of local, regional, and national sporting events that provide many benefits to the Salt Lake City community. According to Visit Salt Lake, the seven major national sporting events hosted at the RAC from May – September 2017 drew a combined total of 16,091 players and attendees to Salt Lake City that had a $10 million impact on the local economy and generated over 20,975 room night bookings at area hotels. The impact that the RAC has on the economy extends beyond economic impact; a 6-day tournament this June directly supported over 2,890 jobs at Salt Lake City businesses involved with the tournament.
“The RAC is honored to be recognized as one of the best places to play soccer in the country,” stated Salt Lake City Regional Athletic Complex Manager, Chris Laughlin. “We are thankful to the voters who landed us the second spot on the rankings and acknowledge that our work is never done in ensuring that the RAC provides players, coaches, and fans an exceptional and unique experience at our facility.”
The rankings for the best soccer facility were determined by an online survey conducted by Connect Sports in which respondents voted for their pick as the top facility to host soccer tournaments. According to the voters, the RAC’s experienced staff, quality fields, and ability to attract major events are what make it one of the best.
The final rankings:
• Maryland SoccerPlex
• Salt Lake City Regional Athletic Complex
• Bryan Multi-Sports Complex
• MoneyGram Soccer Park
• Mercyhealth Sportscore Two
• Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
• Mike Rose Soccer Complex
• Burbank Soccer Complex
• Veterans Park and Athletic Complex
More information on the Regional Athletic Complex and Connect Sports rankings can be found here.
Contact: Chris Laughlin, Salt Lake City Regional Athletic Complex Manager
Chris.Laughlin@slcgov.com