Founding Real Salt Lake executive John Kimball re-joins Utah Soccer on interim basis

NEW YORK – John Kimball, one of the founding executives of Real Salt Lake, is returning to the club to serve as interim president of Utah Soccer, effective immediately – taking a temporary leave from his role as president of Vivint Arena.

Kimball will have exclusive management responsibility and control of operations for the organization and report to Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber on MLS matters during the ownership transition period. In addition, Kimball will serve as the club’s representative on the MLS Board of Governors.

[+READ: Dell Loy Hansen to sell Utah Soccer Holdings, including MLS, USL and NWSL teams]

“John Kimball is an experienced sports executive who brings extraordinary leadership and stability to the organization,” said Garber. “John was instrumental in the launch of Real Salt Lake and has a deep connection to the local soccer community. We thank the Miller family and Larry H. Miller Group of Companies CEO Steve Starks for their support during this important transition period.”

A Utah native, Kimball has more than 25 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry. He was part of Real Salt Lake’s executive team for a decade, joining the club as senior vice president of business operations in 2003, two years before the team’s inaugural MLS season. After departing Real Salt Lake in early 2013, Kimball worked in the media business before joining Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment in 2015.