May 19, 2000

A new sports franshise kicks off its inaugural season here in Utah this evening. Of course, the name of the team ends in two "ZZ"s.

Move over Jazz, Buzz, Grizz, Starzz and Freezz--here come the Blitzz. News Specialist John Daley reports from Rice-Eccles Stadium.

It's the number one sport in the world, the number one sport in terms of participation in Utah. And the team that'll take this field tonight hopes soccer will be a big draw at the ticket office too.

At Rice-Eccles Stadium they're cleaning the windows on the sky boxes. They've got fresh new lines on a sparkling new grass field. The event: Not Utes football, but Utah Blitzz soccer.

In a state with an enormous youth program and a growing, soccer-loving Latino population, the folks behind the team think the future looks bright.

Soccer is the state's top participatory sport, and Utah has more soccer players per capita than any other state--17 out of every 100 people play the game. The Blitzz hopes those players will make for a solid spectator base.

And, like other teams in town, the Blitzz plan to make their games fun and entertaining.

The team hopes to become a fixture on the Utah sports scene, and is even planning a new soccer stadium for next year located at 21st South and I-215.

The team hopes to make a night at the soccer game a family event. So tickets are reasonable. $10 for adults, and kids are free if they wear their team uniform. [DALEY ON CAMERA] Game starts at 7:30.