This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

An ESPN poll last month found that professional soccer is now the second most-popular sport among Americans ages 12 to 24, ranking ahead of the NBA and Major League Baseball (the NFL is No. 1). That's not surprising to anyone who follows Utah's Major League Soccer team, Real Salt Lake, and has seen the burgeoning stands of Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. If you're ready to climb aboard the bandwagon, but don't know quite how, here's a handy checklist.

What it is • Real Salt Lake — or "RSL" for short — is a professional soccer team that plays in Major League Soccer, the top level of the sport in the United States. The league has 19 teams all over the U.S. and Canada and includes such marquee players as David Beckham. The "Real" part of the name — which means royal in Spanish — pays homage to the famous Real Madrid team in Spain. In all honestly, though, many soccer fans outside of Utah think that's kinda lame.

RSL is good • The team won the 2009 MLS Cup championship, in just its fifth year of existence. And even though that was kind of a fluke — the team caught fire in the playoffs after a mediocre regular season — the team has been one of the top contenders for the league title ever since. Just as important, coach Jason Kreis aspires to play "attractive" soccer, meaning he prefers a fluid, stylish and aggressive approach that typically appeals to fans.

Why RSL calls Sandy home • The team's home, Rio Tinto Stadium, was built in Sandy rather than various potential sites in Salt Lake City, after a long political battle over its funding. It finally opened near the end of the 2008 season, at 9256 S. State St. It holds 20,213 fans, sells out several times a year, and has become a veritable fortress at which RSL seldom loses. Rio Tinto, by the way, is the global mining conglomerate that owns the Kennecott mine and paid to have the stadium name.

Getting there • The stadium is just off the 9000 South exit of Interstate 15, but parking is a hassle. Although there are several lots around the stadium that usually charge anywhere from $5 to $20 for parking, it's easiest to take the TRAX Blue Line to the Sandy Expo stop, and take the short walk across State Street.

When they play • On average, the team plays on Saturdays from March until the end of October, when the playoffs begin. Only half of those games are at home, of course — 17 in the regular-season — and sometimes the team plays during the week. You can find a schedule at http://www.realsaltlake.com/schedule.

What you need to know before a game • For starters, tickets are usually pretty easy to find, and reasonably priced. Call the stadium ticket office at 801-727-2701, or visit the team website. Once you decide on a game, be aware that while the seats behind the goals are the cheapest, they also typically occupy what's known as "supporters groups" — clubs of super fans who wave flags, pound drums, set off flares and chant endlessly (sometimes profanely) during the games. That can be a lot of fun, and it makes for a great atmosphere during the game. But it's also not for everyone. Less intense environments are available in other parts of the stadium.

Beer • $8.75 for a large — and vendors come to you.

Xango • Unlike most American sports, soccer teams usually sell the space on the front of their jerseys to top sponsors. In RSL's case, its jersey sponsor is the Lehi-based beverage company. It pays about $1 million a year for the privilege.

The best player • There's a lot of room for argument, since RSL has made a point of building a team without a superstar. But midfielder Javier Morales is the guy who choreographs the team's attack on the field, while fellow midfielder Kyle Beckerman is a gritty hard-worker with a head of wild dreadlocks. Striker Alvaro Saborio has played in the World Cup for Costa Rica and is the team's all-time leading scorer. Oh, and hulking defender Jamison Olave? Adoring fans say his last name is a verb, for the way he uses his size, strength and speed to shut down opposing attackers.

Being a homeboy • Goalkeeper Nick Rimando may be the best in the league — "Nick is my homeboy" is a ubiquitous slogan — and he's a lot of fun. Follow him on Twitter: @NickRimando You Should Go: Real Salt Lake

Find news, schedule information, tickets and more on the RSL website.

Web • realsaltlake.com