I guess it's more about the stadium atmosphere, hardware, and success with your fans when the season ends.

RLS
Average attendance

regular season/playoffs
2005: 18,037/missed playoffs
2006: 16,366/missed playoffs
2007: 15,960/missed playoffs
2008: 16,179/19,632
2009: 16,375/11,499





REAL SALT LAKE
2009 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS!

REAL SALT LAKE
2009 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS!

REAL SALT LAKE
2009 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS!


The team name seems to gets better with time and positive fan experiences!



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Salt_Lake#Real_Madrid_and_Youth_Academy

"Dave Checketts and SCP Worldwide partners Dean Howes, Kenneth Munoz, Michael McCarthy, and Chris Bevilacqua chose Real Salt Lake for the team's name because they desired to associate the team with a successful soccer club, Real Madrid, as well as to develop a brand that was clearly associated with association football.
Other team names considered were Salt Lake City Highlanders, Salt Lake Soccer Club, Alliance Soccer Club and Union SLC.[1], and the choice of Real Salt Lake was initially met with derision in the fan community. In the passing years, the criticism from local fans and the media has waned, and the club has instituted a formal relationship with Real Madrid.[2]"

"As of September of the 2006 season, Real Salt Lake and Real Madrid have signed a 10-year co-operative agreement. Among the provisions of the deal are a biennial friendly match between the two teams to take place in Salt Lake City, annual February training for RSL at the Real Madrid practice facility in Spain, and, perhaps most importantly, the creation of a $25 million elite youth academy in SLC that will train up to 200 players from ages 12 to 18.[15] The academy, a co-operative project for which Real Madrid will pay half the cost, will include academic facilities and dormitory housing, arguably becoming the first true soccer "youth system" in MLS, along with the Red Bull Academy effort of Red Bull New York. In this sense, it is part of a growing league-wide trend toward the emphasis of youth development, a trend which has been encouraged by the main office and jump-started by the league's decision to allow individual teams to maintain rights to the products of potential youth development systems."
.........................................................................................................................
So, the name may not be all that important if you completely nail everything else...

*They have real fans who actually come to the games.
*The team gets front page news coverage from all major media in the region.
*The new soccer specific stadium is second to none in America.
*Plenty of free close parking.
*Trax public transportation station two blocks from stadium.
*Nice warm summer evening temperatures at game time.
*Few thunderstorms and tornados to cancel games.
*No Bugs.
*A scoreboard that works on electricity and has a very large replay screen.
*More then one bathroom.
*Many types of food and drink including beers.
*Multipul fan supporter groups.
*Pre game tailgating (with beer).
*A cooperation agreement with one of the worlds largest clubs.
*Plans for a youth soccer academy (MLS/single entity issues).
*Local sponsors that actually have the ability to promote the team to large numbers of customers (Zions Bank).
*Strong jersey sales in their local area.
*A very diverse fan base (Mormans, Prostadents, and Catholics ).
*Three Rocky Mountain Cups
*A new soccer stadium followed by the 2009 MLS Cup Championship.
.........................................................................................................................


A name is just what you call something.
A rich history fitting of a KING takes a little longer to achieve.

All that is true.

However...Real Salt Lake is still a stupid name. It has nothing to do with the region. It's a completely Europosing name. It's Jennifer Jason Leigh pretending to be Bridget Fonda in Single White Female. It has no connection to American soccer, America, or even the English language. It's beyond stupid. It was beyond stupid in 2005 and it's beyond stupid now.

So it's not surprising to me at all that it would appeal to you.

That should say Two Rocky Mountain Cups.
The Thunder won it in 2005.

With all those positives you mentioned, you forgot one negative. They're still in Utah.

Utah is actually a very beautiful state with a lot going for it. Regardless of what you've heard or what your preconceived notions about the state's dominant religion are, it's a very livable place. A lot more livable than a lot of other places.

And, oh, by the way, they have a terrific new stadium not far from downtown and you have a place in Blaine running a team as a non-profit.

Nice badge, though.

Wow, Bernie, I rarely agree with you, but man did you nail absolutely everything on the head.

Seamonster- you obviously have no experience Utah, gosh.

All- we have a name now we just need players!

I'm not complaining one bit! Trying to explain what's happened to the Thunder, the League(s), and the new NSC Minnesota team to people who don't know what's going on at all..... Whew! I must say!!!!! I'm really happy we've got Pro Soccer back in Minnesota!!!! Call 'em what you will, Color 'em what you will. I can't wait for the next few weeks for the announcement of a new coach and players. And May can't come too soon when I start cheering for our (new) boys in Blue again!!!! And I'll still hate Milwaukee:-D

Lived there two years after graduating from college. 600 S 1200 E, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. I have the free agency to say what I want. heh.

Damn right I have a team in Blaine. Proud of it too. If you don't like it then why do you continue to come around here? Seriously???