RSL's Checketts sells to local owner Hansen

SANDY, Utah (AP) -- The man who brought Major League Soccer to Utah and won a fight to build Real Salt Lake a 20,000-seat stadium is selling his interest in the team to minority owner Dell Loy Hansen.

Dave Checketts and the team made the announcement Thursday afternoon at Rio Tinto Stadium. The sale of RSL assets includes the stadium and ESPN700 sports radio.

Hansen bought 49 percent of Checketts' sports properties in Utah in November 2009 — just after Real Salt Lake won the MLS Cup.

Checketts has previously served as president of the New York Knicks and president and general manager of the Utah Jazz. He went on to found SCP Worldwide, a company whose assets include the St. Louis Blues.

Hansen is president of Logan-based Wasatch Property Management Inc.