MLS: Ranking all 24 Major League Soccer stadiums

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 08: A wide view of the pitch from the stands of Mercedes Benz Stadium just prior to the start of the 2018 Audi MLS Cup Championship match between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on December 08, 2018 in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /

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SANDY, UT – MARCH 12: General view of Rio Tinto Stadium before the Seattle Sounders play Real Salt Lake on March 12, 2016 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

13. Real Salt Lake – Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy, UT

Capacity: 20,180

Opened: 2008

Pros: Mountains, soccer-specific, natural surface, sightlines

Cons: Bureaucracy, location, weather

I’m a sucker for a good view, and Rio Tinto Stadium delivers that in spades with picturesque views of Mount Raymond, Mount O’Sullivan and Lone Peak just to name a few. You know what I’m not a sucker for? Bureaucracy, and this stadium is dripping in it. It’s a story of land devaluation, tax disputes and lawyer speak that we don’t have time nor space to get into here, so check this out. Located in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy, Rio Tinto is a bit of a trek to get to. It is a beautiful structure surrounded by gorgeous scenery, albeit with a dubious backstory, but that only partly makes up for the awkward location. The odd freak weather event is known to go down here, but for the most part, it’s just great views and great soccer.

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