Miller Sports + Entertainment

Miller Sports + Entertainment
IndustrySports management
Founded2024 (2024)
FounderGail Miller
Headquarters
Sandy, Utah
ParentLarry H. Miller Company
Websitehttps://millerse.com/

Miller Sports + Entertainment (MSE) is the sports and entertainment division of the Larry H. Miller Company, an American firm based in Utah. MSE oversees LHMCO's interests in Megaplex Theatres, Real Salt Lake, the Salt Lake Bees, the Utah Royals, and other related enterprises.

History

Larry H. Miller purchased the Utah Jazz in 1985 for $22 million. The Larry H. Miller Company sold the Jazz in 2020 to Ryan Smith for $1.6 billion.[1]

Larry Miller purchased the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, a minor league ice hockey team in the International Hockey League, in 1989 and sold the team in 1994.[2]

In 1997, Larry Miller was awarded the franchise for the Utah Starzz of the Women's National Basketball Association.[3] In 2002, Miller sold the team to Spurs Sports & Entertainment.[4]

In April 2023, MSE formed Big League Utah to attract a Major League Baseball team to Utah.[5]

The Miller Sports + Entertainment company spun was re-branded from the Larry H. Miller Company in May 2024.[6][7]

On April 18, 2025, Miller Sports + Entertainment and the Miller family acquired the Real Monarchs, Utah Royals, and Real Salt Lake (RSL), in a $600 million deal.[8][9] The teams are all owned and operated under RSL Football Holdings.[10] In July 2025, MSE added local investors to RSL Football Holdings, including Matt Hawkins, Nick Greer, Jeremy and Kristin Andrus and the Don Berman family.[11]

Businesses

Megaplex Theatres

Main article: Megaplex Theatres

Megaplex Theatres is a cinema chain based in Sandy, Utah. It was founded in 1999 is owned by the Larry H. Miller Company and run by MSE. As of 2024, Megaplex Theatres operated 17 locations. The first location anchored the newly built Jordan Commons restaurant and entertainment complex in Sandy when it opened on November 1, 1999, with 20 screens. The theater was built on the former site of Jordan High School. Since its opening, the Sandy location has grown to be one of the highest-grossing theaters locally while also ranking among the top theaters nationwide on some films.[12]

Sports

Salt Lake Bees

Main article: Salt Lake Bees

This franchise dates from 1994, when Joe Buzas, a former major league player and the owner of the PCL Portland Beavers, moved the team to Salt Lake City. Buzas made a deal wherein the city would build a new ballpark on the site of historic Derks Field in exchange for relocating the team. The new ballpark, Franklin Quest Field, opened in 1994 with the renamed Salt Lake Buzz drawing 713,224 fans to home games during their inaugural season—breaking the PCL single-season attendance record that had stood for 48 years.[13] Buzas owned the team until his death in 2003. The team was purchased by Larry H. Miller, who also owned the NBA's Utah Jazz. Miller died in February 2009, and the team is owned by his widow, Gail Miller. Known as the Salt Lake Buzz from 1994 to 2000, the team changed its name to the Salt Lake Stingers in 2001. The change was forced by a trademark dilution lawsuit filed by Georgia Tech, whose yellowjacket mascot is named Buzz.[14]

MSE oversees The Ballpark at America First Square, the home stadium for the Salt Lake Bees, which it has owned since 2005.[15] The stadium was unveiled in 2024 and is part of the larger Daybreak (community).[16]

Real Salt Lake

Main article: Real Salt Lake

In April 2025, LHMCO acquired a controlling interest in Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS), the Utah Royals of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and America First Field from David Blitzer and Ryan Smith for $600 million.[17]

Teams

Current

Team Sport League Year acquired
Big League Utah Baseball Major League Baseball (pursuing future team) 2023
Real Monarchs Soccer MLS Next Pro 2025[18]
Real Salt Lake Soccer Major League Soccer 2025[18]
Salt Lake Bees Baseball Pacific Coast League (Triple-A) 2005
Utah Royals Women's Soccer National Women's Soccer League 2025[18]

Former

Team Sport League Years
Salt Lake City Stars Basketball NBA G League 2015–2020
Salt Lake Golden Eagles Ice Hockey International Hockey League 1989–1994
Utah Jazz Basketball National Basketball Association 1985–2020
Utah Starzz Women's Basketball Women's National Basketball Association 1997–2002

References

  1. ^ Benson, Lee (November 8, 2020). "Larry Miller would've loved the return on investment". Deseret News. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  2. ^ Hamilton, Linda; Hamilton, Linda; Writer, Sports (April 6, 1994). "WHAT KILLED THE EAGLES?". Deseret News. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  3. ^ Donaldson, Amy (June 2, 2000). "Starzz find a spot in Miller's heart". Deseret News. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  4. ^ Hamilton, Linda (May 22, 2003). "San Antonio embracing erstwhile Utah Starzz". Deseret News. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  5. ^ Silverman, Alex (February 5, 2026). "Utah's Miller family pursuing hat trick of sports-anchored developments with baseball, soccer". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  6. ^ Preece, Brian (May 29, 2024). "LHM Company Announces Sports & Entertainment Rebrand". KSL Sports. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  7. ^ "Miller Sports + Entertainment Unveils New Brand Identity and Embarks on Platform Rebirth Within the Larry H. Miller Company". www.lhm.com. May 29, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  8. ^ Carlisle, Jeff (April 18, 2025). "Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals sold to ex-Jazz owners for $600M". ESPN. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  9. ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (April 18, 2025). "Miller Family Buying Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals From Blitzer". Sportico.com. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  10. ^ Romboy, Dennis (April 18, 2025). "Larry H. Miller family buys major league soccer teams". Deseret News. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  11. ^ "Millers add to RSL Football Holdings ownership". Sports Business Journal. February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  12. ^ "One-day sales put Utah Megaplex and 'Sith' in a galaxy of their own". Deseret News. May 21, 2005. Archived from the original on December 23, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  13. ^ Facer, Dirk (August 29, 1997). "Buzz attendance falls but still tops PCL". Deseret News. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
  14. ^ Lange, Scott (April 24, 1998). "Like Buzz, if I could be like Buzz..." The Technique. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
  15. ^ McCormick, Bret (February 5, 2026). "Miller Sports + Entertainment unveils renderings for Salt Lake City ballpark". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  16. ^ Jennings, Aubree B. (October 19, 2023). "Crews break ground on new Salt Lake Bees ballpark in Daybreak". ABC4 Utah. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  17. ^ Novy-Williams, Eben (April 18, 2025). "Miller Family Buying Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals From Blitzer". Sportico. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  18. ^ a b c "Soccer about to have a global moment in the U.S." Deseret News. April 18, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
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