Even though Salt Lake City is known as an “X-Games city” or “winter sports city”, they are a soccer city in every way. In perspective to the average MLS team, Real Salt Lake does not receive many nationally televised games, or “primetime games”. However, the lack of national coverage does not detract from the success and fanbase of this franchise whatsoever. Real Salt Lake’s first season in the MLS was in 2005, and since then they have appeared in the playoffs ten different times, including one year, 2009, in which they won the MLS Cup Finals. In the 2009 MLS Cup Finals, Real Salt Lake faced the favorite to win at the time, LA Galaxy. The Galaxy were the best regular season team that season and were ready to rout Real Salt Lake. But, it was not as easy as it seemed. Real Salt Lake blocked out what the critics predicted, and just played good, fundamental, unselfish soccer. Real Salt Lake defeated the Galaxy and that 2009 Real Salt Lake team is still known as one of the best “underdog stories” in MLS history. Real Salt Lake fans love being known as the “underdog” because the organization’s success embodies resilience and grit.
