Miller family acquires Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals

• The deal totaled about $600 million, per The Athletic, citing anonymous sources.
• It includes the Real Monarchs club, which plays in the MLS Next Pro, as well as America First Field, the Zions Bank Stadium and Zions Bank Training Center, according to a press release.

What they're saying: "One of the things that we realized frankly, and maybe more recently, was that the control owner of a franchise should really be local and immensely embedded in their community," David Blitzer, who partnered with Utah pro sports tycoon Ryan Smith to purchase Real Salt Lake for a reported $400 million in 2022, told The Athletic.

• "We are grateful for David Blitzer's trust, and I am confident our combined experience in sports leadership will elevate soccer within Utah and support the club's goal of winning championships," Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company, said in a written statement.

Between the lines: Smith sold his entire stake in the clubs. Blitzer will remain as a minority owner.

Catch up quick: Smith purchased the Utah Jazz from the Millers for a reported $1.66 billion in 2020.

• He secured the National Hockey League's Utah Hockey Club — formerly the Arizona Coyotes — last year for a reported $1.2 billion.

The big picture: The Miller family's purchase comes as they campaign for a Major League Baseball expansion team in the Beehive State.