Thirteen-time NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade announced that he is joining the ownership group of MLS’s Real Salt Lake.
Wade joins an ownership group that consists of David Blitzer and partners at Smith Entertainment Group and becomes the latest current or former NBA player involved in MLS ownership, joining the likes of James Harden (Houston Dynamo), Steve Nash (Vancouver Whitecaps), Kevin Durant (Philadelphia Union) and Magic Johnson (LAFC).
MLS board of governors approved the sale of RSL to David Blitzer and the Smith Entertainment Group on Wednesday. According to the Associated Press, the RSL deal includes Rio Tinto Stadium, the RSL Academy, the MLS Next Pro team Real Monarchs and the club's Zions Bank Training Center.
The team was previously owned by Dell Loy Hansen before the team was put up for sale in August 2020 after he made racists comments. From there, the league took over the sales process of the team in January 2021 due to the team failing to find a buyer.
Blitzer has an ownership stake in the 76ers, the NHL's New Jersey Devils and the Premier League's Crystal Palace. Wade adds another layer to his ownership stakes in Utah.
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In April, Wade purchased an ownership stake with the Jazz. In addition, Wade's son—Zaire Wade—is also currently playing with the Jazz G-League affiliate Salt Lake City Stars.
