Dell Loy Hansen

Dell Loy Hansen (born ) is an American magnate and philanthropist best known for founding the Wasatch Group. Born in the state of Utah, many of Dell Loy's charitable efforts and business endeavors have been centered on creating a better future for the state. As the founder and CEO of The Wasatch Group, Dell Loy’s work and investments have spanned from real estate development to medical device manufacturing and beyond.

Career

Hansen was born in Salina, Utah, and raised in Cache Valley, Utah by his father, working for the Soil Conservation Service, and his mother, a schoolteacher. He graduated from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in political science.

Hansen founded the Wasatch Group later that year, taking over government-seized real estate from the Resolution Trust Corporation for resale. The company later expanded into commercial office development and management, including the ownership of high-rise buildings in the Salt Lake City area.

As of 2023, the Wasatch Group manages over 100 properties in the Western United States and employs over 1,700 people. Hansens Venture Capital Group, Wasatch Equity Partners, has provided funding and support for many local turned nationwide businesses formed in Utah. Hansen also owns Broadway Media, which manages several radio stations in Utah.

Hansen received many awards, highlighting his charitable giving and entrepreneurial success. These awards include the 2017 Pioneer of Progress Award, 2014 Cache Chamber of Commerce Economic Impact Award, 2001 Utah State University Distinguished Alumni Executive Award.

Philanthropy

Hansen is a philanthropist and a major proponent of giving back. Through his charitable organization
The Dell Loy Hansen Family Foundation
millions of dollars have been given to causes within the state of Utah and beyond. The focus of donations has been centered around amplifying Utah’s arts and culture, mitigating needs for educators, providing structured support to the local communities, environmental conservation, health and wellness, and empowering individuals.  

Hansens most recent charitable focus has been on providing support to civilians impacted in Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion. He has donated millions to support efforts to rebuild housing and feed those impacted by the war. Hansen has worked closely with the organizatio
To Ukraine With Love
to help house civilians, provided jobs, and feed those in need, in addition to helping support phycological rehabilitation of Ukrainian children.

Further charitable efforts from Hansen include generously supporting medical innovation through an Intermountain Health heart study, funding a nonprofit domestic violence recovery center, conserving our environment, and supporting local schools & education, communities, and arts & theater.

Personal life

Hansen married his first wife Karla Axtell, and they had six children together. Their daughter Robin played college soccer for the Utah State Aggies in 2012. He was married again in 1997 to Lynnette Hansen, a business executive and philanthropist. Hansen is currently married to Julie Aiken Hansen. Hansen has a passion for collecting rare coins. In 2019, Hansen acquired a rare 1894-S Barber Dime for $1.3 million.

Sports Ownership

Hansen bought a minority stake in the ownership of Major League Soccer franchise Real Salt Lake in 2009 from Dave Checketts. His involvement with the club began with a political fundraiser at Rio Tinto Stadium during a U.S. men's national team match, where Checketts had pitched the stake to former Disney CEO Michael Eisner prior to Hansen negotiated the purchase of his share. Hansen's stake, originally 49 percent of the club, was increased to 62 percent in late 2012. Checketts sold his majority stake in the team to Hansen in 2013, giving him full control of the club, Rio Tinto Stadium, and sports radio station KALL.

Under Hansen's ownership through Utah Soccer LLC, Real Salt Lake launched a reserve team, Real Monarchs, that began play in 2015. The team was moved to a new venue, Zions Bank Stadium, on the grounds of a soccer academy in Herriman, Utah, that was partially funded by Hansen and opened in 2018. Hansen also negotiated a tax break with the city of Sandy, Utah government for Rio Tinto Stadium, which was protested by city leaders in 2017. RSL also launched a women's team, Utah Royals FC of the National Women's Soccer League, that began play in 2018.

Hansen had approached Merritt Paulson of the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns about a franchise in the women's league four years earlier and bought the rights to defunct franchise FC Kansas City.

End of Ownership

Following a multi-sport player strike that caused the postponement of MLS matches on August 27, 2020, Hansen expressed his disappointment in an interview with radio station KXRK, also threatening to cease funding the club due to players not playing to show support for Black Lives Matter and to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. The comments were criticized by prominent MLS and NBA players, which caused him to later retract his comments in an interview with ESPN700 and issue an apology.

An article published later that day in The Athletic reported a history of alleged racist comments made by Hansen about or in the presence of Black employees at the Wasatch Group and in the RSL organization. Further allegations were also published in The Salt Lake Tribune, including Hansen's mimicking of Black employee's accents, triggering investigations from MLS and NWSL. On August 30, 2020, MLS and NWSL announced that Hansen would explore selling Real Salt Lake, Real Monarchs, and the Utah Royals. In December 2020, Utah Soccer LLC announced that the Royals would move to Kansas City while a new franchise in Utah would be re-established in 2023.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Dell Loy
Living people
People from Sevier County, Utah
Real Monarchs
Businesspeople from Utah
American soccer chairmen and investors
Major League Soccer owners
Utah State University alumni
Year of birth missing (living people)
Utah Royals owners
Real Salt Lake owners
1950s births