Utah Blitzz

Utah Blitzz was an American professional soccer team in based in Salt Lake City, Utah that played in the USL Pro Select League (later known as the USL Second Division). The club was founded in 2000 but folded following the 2004 season to make way for the Major League Soccer franchise, Real Salt Lake, to begin play in 2005. During its short existence the club was very successful, winning two league titles and finishing first or second in the Western Conference every season. The club played its home games at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah.

Utah Blitzz
Full nameUtah Blitzz Football Club
Nickname(s)The Blitzz
Founded2000
Dissolved2004
GroundRice-Eccles Stadium
Salt Lake City, Utah
Capacity45,634
Owner Jon Garff
Head Coach Chris Agnello
LeagueUSL Pro Select League
20041st, Western Conference
Playoffs: Champions

History

The Utah Blitzz Football Club was founded in 2000 by ANA Sports Management a division of ANA Development a Commercial Real Estate and Property Development Company, joining the third division of professional soccer in the United States, playing in the USL Pro Select League (also known as the USL D3 Pro League and later as the USL Second Division). The team would play its home games out of Rice-Eccles Stadium on the campus of the University of Utah, but had plans to build its own soccer specific stadium.[1] The club began its first season with Chris Agnello as head coach and Stacy McNicol as Director of Operations, both of whom would later become co-owners. After the success of the franchise in the first season with the "soccer" fans in Utah, plans were made to bring in some new and more experience players. Due to scheduling conflicts with the University of Utah's Rice Eccles Stadium and the Utes Football Team, the Blitzz were forced to look for a new home pitch. Utah new to professional soccer did not have the facilities to provide a stadium for the team. A deal was made with Brigham Young University for the use of their soccer field and home games for the 2001 season were moved to that facility. Prior to the 2004 season, majority ownership was sold to the Ken Garff family, with Bob Garff as chairman Ken Garff Automotive Group based in Utah and his son, Jon Garff, overseeing ownership of the team.

Agnello would lead the Blitzz to a USL Pro Select League title in only its second season, with consecutive first-place finishes in the Western Conference from 2001-2004 and ending the club's final season with a second League championship in 2004.

On July 12, 2004, the country's first division pro league, Major League Soccer, announced that an expansion franchise had been awarded to Salt Lake City, with the new team to begin play in 2005. Following the championship victory in the 2004 season, the Blitzz ownership decided it would be best to step aside and not compete for attention or fans with the new MLS club. However, due to the success of the Blitzz, many staff and players would find a role in the Real Salt Lake (RSL) organization, including Agnello, who would go on to serve as a first team assistant coach for RSL.[2]

Year-by-year
Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Cup Attendance[3]
2000 3 USL D-3 Pro League 2nd, Western Conference Finals Did not qualify 2,997
2001 3 USL D-3 Pro League 1st, Western Champion 2nd Round 1,471
2002 3 USL D-3 Pro League 1st, Western Semifinals 2nd Round 2,235
2003 3 USL Pro Select League 1st, Western Semifinals 2nd Round 4,227
2004 3 USL Pro Soccer League 1st, Western Champion 3rd Round 2,652

Honors

Players & staff

Head coaches
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References
  1. "Utah Blitzz - New Soccer Team". KSL.com, KSL Television/Utah News. 2000-05-19. Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  2. "Utah Blitzz: Club helped pave way for success of new MLS franchise". DesertNews.com. 2005-08-02. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  3. Attendance Project: Div. III.
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