Raccoon Scurries Around MLS Press Box After Falling Through Ceiling

Real Salt Lake’s Leagues Cup Round of 32 match against Club León on Thursday night was postponed due to bad weather, but there was still plenty of excitement in the stadium. 

While reporters camped out in the press box waiting out a lengthy weather delay, a raccoon came crashing through the ceiling. According to KSL.com’s Caleb Turner, the ceiling began to leak as heavy rains fell outside. Eventually, the leaky ceiling tile gave way and a small raccoon fell through, landing right near a popcorn machine. (Yes, this is the league Lionel Messi is playing in now.)

“Poor guy,” one observer said. “He’s gotta be so cold and wet.”

The falling raccoon left a sizable hole in the press box ceiling. 

The raccoon in the press box wasn’t the only one in the stadium, either. According to RSL podcaster Ethan Kershaw, the stadium’s facilities team believed there were multiple raccoons in the stadium. One was spotted on the stadium concourse and fell to the ground as staffers tried to trap it in a trash can. 

RSL spokesperson Delmy Barillas said that the second raccoon was “safely caught and released by the creek outside of the stadium.”

This isn’t the first time an animal has made an unwelcome appearance at a Leagues Cup match in Salt Lake. During a 2019 game between RSL and Tigres UANL, a cat ran across the field in the middle of play.