Like Real Madrid, or Real Salt Lake.  I don't really get it.

What does Real mean?

Dont have a clue about the American team, but Real Madrid was started out as Madrid but King alfonso of Spain was a massive supporter and from then on they have been known as

ROYAL MADRID.

All the Spanish teams can only be refered to Real if a King of Spain declares he supports them. It kind of stopped changing the names like 50 years ago though. Mainly a traditional thing that has died out.

Ah...

The American team is probably just doing it because they think it sounds cool.

I mean America has only had one king.  Well Emperor really... and he was more of a Sanfran guy.

wow I learned something new today

Looked it up. Apparently it was indeed chosen in Salt Lake for marketing reasons... and has since actually formed a working partership with Real Madrid.

Crazy stuff...

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060902/ai_n16711063/

Real = Royal... But I see I've been beaten too it.

There are languages other than English in existence.

Hmmm... Royal Talk with snake612.. Wait.. Snake was Royalty?

Do you not have to have an affiliation with the Spanish royal family to use the prefix "Real" then?

I guess in America the Spanish royal family wouldn't really have a say over the use of the word.