Beyond the Pitch: How Tech and Soccer Inspire Utah’s Future Leaders
At Comcast, we believe in the power of connection, and we’re investing in Utah by giving local youth real-life experiences that combine technology and teamwork. Our recent “Tech Meets Soccer” event at America First Field, home of Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC, brought this vision to life.
On September 3, thirty-five local students and staff joined us for a day exploring how technology is changing professional sports—and what that means for future careers.
Where Technology Meets Teamwork
Many people think STEM and sports are separate. But behind every match, advanced tech is used to track performance, entertain fans, and keep everything running smoothly. Students toured the stadium, saw live broadcasting in action, and even spotted themselves on the giant screen.
The event also showed how jobs in sports go far beyond being on the field. Students met staff from facilities, entertainment, and the team’s digital media departments to learn about all the different career paths that help make game day happen.
“At Comcast, we take pride in connecting our communities to unique experiences, demonstrating how technology brings us together for the moments that matter most,” said Ioana Platon, External Affairs Manager at Comcast. “The ‘Tech Meets Soccer’ event offered a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore a different side of the sport that they typically don’t encounter.”
“We hope that through these types of engagements, we’re galvanizing excitement with youth, so they become Utah’s future tech leaders and entrepreneurs—which supports a stable economy.”
Inspiration from the Field
Players from Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC spoke about their journeys and described how technology helps keep them at their best. Afterward, students got to ask questions and take photos with them.
One community partner staff member summed it up:
“This single event opened doors for our youth, showing them how technology and sports can inspire their dreams and shape their future,” said Diana Martinez, Community Outreach Liaison, Prog Development Center. “We appreciate Comcast, Real Salt Lake, and Utah Royals FC for making this meaningful experience possible.”
Hearing this kind of feedback shows how important it is to create hands-on learning moments for youth across Utah.
“Something I liked about the event was being able to meet the players and being able to see the stadium,” said Mike Campos, Granger High School student and Youth Advisory Council Member, PROG Development Center. “Something I learned was all the technology that is needed to run the stadium and how important everyone’s job was.”
“At Comcast, we take pride in connecting our communities to unique experiences, demonstrating how technology brings us together for the moments that matter most,” said Ioana Platon, External Affairs Manager at Comcast. “The ‘Tech Meets Soccer’ event offered a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore a different side of the sport that they typically don’t encounter.”
Teamwork for the Future
Our event was possible thanks to working with Real Salt Lake, a club dedicated to helping Utah’s youth dream bigger.
“We were excited to host our annual STEM in Sports Night with Xfinity… showcasing these possibilities helps kids see how we, as a club, use STEM to gain every advantage. It’s a unique experience that we hope inspires the next generation of leaders,” Kyle Schroeder, VP of Community & Player Engagement, said.
“STEM and sports might seem unrelated, but they are deeply connected. We’ve seen that STEM is shaping the future of sports.”
Events like “Tech Meets Soccer” are just one way Comcast supports communities in Utah. We’re excited to help prepare young people for whatever future they choose—on or off the field.
