[SLC Projects]

As we know RSL wants to built it 20,000 seat stadium in Sandy right off of 9400 South and State Street. Last August city leaders and Team leaders had the ground breaking of the stadium. But five mouths later nothing happens. The site is still just a field. There has been money issues with the stadium since day one. Who should pay for the 100 million dollar stadium? Should the people of salt lake be tax? Or should the money come from our schools? or should the money come out of other projects such as trax?
Real Salt Lake will be starting their 3rd season in April and still no studium to play in. What will be the outcome? Is the stadium deal really dead? or is there still hope? Does anyone even give a flying fuck about RSL anymore? Will the stadium get built in Sandy?......Could salt lake get it?.......Or will we lose the team?
There's alot of things we could be asking about RSL right now. But there's one thing we don't want to be asking is When is the last game of RSL here in utah? or What state is the team moving to?

Here is the latest on KSL..................................



House Speaker Withdraws Support for Soccer Stadium Funding Plan
January 9th, 2007 @ 4:55pm

John Daley Reporting

That's an abrupt turn in the long and winding story of a stadium for ReAl Salt Lake.

The Speaker of the House says the deal is dead and he may re-allocate the funding.

ReAl Salt Lake will play at Rice-Eccles Stadium next season. They planned to open their new stadium in Sandy in spring of 2008. But that's now up in the air, and the clock is ticking.

Fifteen months ago ReAl Salt Lake made its big announcement in Sandy. Despite the celebratory tone that day many details remained unanswered. Utah's House Speaker basked in the news that the team was coming to his town in a deal he helped engineer.

But now he seems inches away from pulling hotel tax funding after telling the paper and KSL Radio's Doug Wright that the plans are dead.

The Speaker survived a reelection bid by just 20 votes, with some voters in his district frustrated over the stadium issue and he makes note of that today.

Greg Curtis (R), Utah House Speaker: "I had an extremely close election, ok? I mean it was covered in the papers for weeks. I'm not going to change what I think is good policy. I respect that people disagree with me, but I'm not going to change it and say 'oh gosh I need to start being political in regards to making my decision. And if it means that it's my last term so be it."

Salt Lake County officials, weighing whether to help fund the stadium, pushed up the schedule for a committee to review it today.

Joe Hatch (D), Salt Lake County Council: "Obviously he does not trust Salt Lake County and we've gotta rebuild that trust and do whatever we can to rebuild it."

Doug Willmore, Chief Administrative Officer: "The deal…The speaker is saying it may be dead. Is it dead? Not for us. We're going to continue to go through the process that the mayor laid out many months ago. We're near the end and hopefully complete that before we make a decision."

So, is the stadium deal over? The speaker points to county officials and is leaving the door slightly open.

Greg Curtis (R), Utah House Speaker: "Understand the urgency and move forward in good faith."

Calls to the speaker's office today requesting an interview were not returned. ReAl owner Dave Checketts is in town and was visiting the editorial boards of the daily papers today but declined our request for an interview. Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan says he is optimistic the deal can still get done.

The stadium deal may look like it's in trouble, but it's still alive. The county will get back the report of a consultant next week. Then a debt review committee will take a look at it before handing it over to the public officials.

It's in the hands of the county. Expect a final thumbs up or down within the next few weeks.





Thoughts?...................What do you guys think? Does RSL really have what it takes to stay here? Will the city leaders and team owners find a way to make a real deal so the freaking stadium can be built already? Is there any hope for this team whatsoever? :shrug:

[CONative]

I hope it ends up in SLC. So many MLS cities are building new soccer stadiums.

The Colorado Rapids soccer stadium (Dicks Sporting Goods Field) is basically complete now and opens in a few months.

[SLC Projects]

Dave Checketts isn't giving up..................at least not yet.



clock Jan 9, 2007 5:21 pm US/Mountain
Checketts: Real Stadium Deal Nearly Done

Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts says he's still optimistic that the plan for a new soccer stadium is nearly done.

Checketts says the contracts are "90 percent" done and he's confident the deal will go through. There have been multiple delays in getting the $45 million in public funds for part of the stadium construction.

Utah House speaker Greg Curtis said that he's working on a bill to take the hotel tax revenue that could go to the stadium project and use it on other projects. If he completes the bill, he could introduce it in the Legislature next week.

The county is still waiting for an independent consultant's report on the funding plan. The county still has to approve the deal.

Checketts hopes to have the 20-thousand seat stadium open in summer 2008.

[N2I.F.]

This is convoluted. Checketts always has positive spin, which probably most owners do. But, who is this person in the Utah House that says it's a dead deal? Is is dead only to Sandy, or UT? SHould we all be contacting our local legislators and tell them to make this happen? Too many unanswered questions for me.

Wish Checketts would tell what 10% of the deal if holding it up (like zoning or other) so other cities might make offers.

SLP- Do you honestly think most people south of 7200 South, want to keep driving downtown for PRO games? I know Denver and other cities have grouped their sports complexes. But, there aren't two mountain ranges on either side of the valley like we have. I anticipate when the need arises for a new NBA basketball arena, it won't go downtown, but more like Midvale, West Jordan or Sandy (depending on ReAL). Of course, that is only my opinion.

[SLC Projects]

RSL is having tons of bad luck now it seem like.......




Part of Land Designated for Real Stadium May Be Contaminated
January 10th, 2007 @ 12:05pm

(KSL News) After getting a slap in the face from House Speaker Greg Curtis, ReAL Salt Lake gets another dose of bad news. Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller surprised the County Council yesterday when she announced part of the land designated for the 110 million dollar stadium may be tainted by petroleum, oil and other waste.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports a study by a Sandy-based company found a one-thousand gallon underground petroleum storage tank located at one end of the property. Waste-oil storage drums, construction debris and other trash have also been stored there.

The county must resolve the pollution question before it can issue the bonds. Miller says it's too early to determine if the contamination is extensive.





I was at that groundbreaking last August and that now explans why i'm glowing green in the dark. LOL. But no really this is the last thing RSL needs right now on top of other issues. Talk about bad luck for the team and owners who just what to get the thing built already. What's next are all the players going to get sick and die one by one? :slob:

[delts145]

By Leigh Dethman and Amelia Nielson-Stowell
Deseret Morning News

http://webserver.desnews.com/photos/3192446.jpg

SANDY — The Sandy City Council voted unanimously in favor of the Real Salt Lake stadium Tuesday night, and Salt Lake County leaders are about to find out if the Major League Soccer franchise is a worthy investment.
While Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan has been a strong advocate for the stadium and immersed in the details of those plans, the City Council has been out of the loop, and its backing of the project has been questioned.
But the unanimous pledge by council members made it clear they support the public/private partnership to build the $110 million stadium and adjoining hotel and broadcast studio.
The resolution cited economic impact, high youth soccer participation, a strong commercial center around the South Towne and Jordan Commons business district, and significant growth in the valley as reasons to pass the resolution.
"Now, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and City Council of Sandy City do strongly support the process for a public/private partnership that will result in the construction of the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium and its planned surrounding development in Sandy City," the resolution states.
The potential economic impact of the team is the main issue holding up a $30 million investment in county dollars to help build the stadium in Sandy. The county's Debt Review Committee will convene today in the first of three meetings to determine if the MLS franchise is on solid financial ground.
"We have a proposal that Real has agreed to," Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said Tuesday. "One of the things I would like to see is whether they can live up to the terms of the agreement. If Real says they'll give us 50 cents of ticket revenue based on 20,000 seats, we want to see if that's going to happen."
In August, Corroon shook hands with Real officials and gave his support to a deal that would give the team $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to help build the stadium. Sandy has pledged an additional $15 million in redevelopment agency funds. The stadium is expected to cost $110 million.
The entire deal, however, depends on a review of the team's finances by both an independent consultant and the Debt Review Committee.
Five months after the August agreement, the financial reviews are finally gaining momentum. The independent consultant's report is due back Thursday, and the County Council has asked the Debt Review Committee to try to make a recommendation by next Tuesday.
County treasurer Larry Richardson, who serves as the Debt Review Committee's chairman, said a recommendation probably won't be ready by then.
Councilman Joe Hatch disagrees. He believes the committee is asking too many questions that have nothing to do with the team's financial viability. To date, members of the Debt Review Committee have put together about 100 questions they want to ask Real officials. Hatch said that in a courtroom, a judge facing a similar scenario would say, "You're doing this to delay. You get 20. Pick your 20 best."
"Actions speak louder than words. It appears that the actions we are taking are delay, delay, delay," Hatch said. "We need to show we're not the ones delaying this."
Corroon said he is not delaying at all. He said he wishes the Debt Review Committee would have made a decision "two months ago" but believes the committee must have enough time to make an informed decision.
They can't do that yet, Corroon said, because Real still has not provided all the information the county needs to make a decision. Corroon has insisted that anything the county pays for, the county must own. According to a letter Tuesday from District Attorney Lohra Miller to the County Council, the county still has no idea what land the county would purchase from Real.
County leaders can't do environmental analyses on the land they will potentially buy without knowing what land they will own, Miller said.
The county also doesn't know if Real has secured a deal with Whitehall, a real estate fund of global financier Goldman Sachs, to own a 50 percent share of the team.
Doug Willmore, the county's chief administrative officer, said the investment firm is probably waiting to see whether the county will fork over public funds before investing private dollars.

[delts145]

The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/17/2007 12:26:41 AM MST


David Beckham may be headed to Los Angeles, but much of Major League Soccer's brass is focused this week on Salt Lake City.
League president Mark Abbott - also the author of the MLS business plan - is in town. Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts makes his second trip from New York in a week. And, MLS Commissioner Don Garber made it a priority to phone The Salt Lake Tribune from Mexico to weigh in.
The issue, of course: whether Salt Lake County will approve a contentious $110 million Sandy stadium deal, which could be decided in the next few weeks.
The county's fiscal consultant and its Debt Review Committee are poised to deliver financial findings - meetings are planned today, Friday and early next week - as parties on all sides sense that an answer to the stadium saga finally is near.
However it goes, the DRC will face major-league pressure during its meetings with executives from both the team and the league perched less than a throw-in away.
"We're very hopeful that this moves in the right direction," said Garber, traveling in Mexico with Chivas USA. "We very much believe in this team. We believe in the city. We believe in the state. We do believe in Dave Checketts. We are pleased with the success he's had so far, but we need to take that to the next level."
With that, a warning of sorts from the commissioner. "It is very difficult for me to imagine how [RSL] can stay in the market without some sort of plan for a future stadium," Garber added.
He made it clear there is no shortage of cities vying for expansion markets. Should Checketts & Co. get bad news this month, Garber says the MLS board will huddle to consider its next move.
Thing is, the nine-member DRC, which likely controls the stadium's fate, is a far stretch from the politicians frequently posturing in news stories.
These are number guys. And they're serious. Think bond yield, spending tests, draw schedules along with positive and negative arbitrage and you get an idea.
Checketts and Garber are calculating that the numbers are on their side. But once the DRC gives its recommendation, final approval still must come from county Mayor Peter Corroon and the County Council. And each has rejected - and embraced - RSL once before.
- Derek P. Jensen

[SLC Projects]

:previous:
Doesn't it seem like that all of this happen before, like this time last year?
People can't seem to make up their minds. county leaders say they want the stadium one day and then they don't the following day.

And yea i bet the MLS has their eyes on salt lake. Just watching and waiting for us to srew up so we end up selling the team. I'm sure there's alot of people just waiting in line to place their bids on RSL. :hell:

If county leadings REALLY knows what's BEST for salt lake county and for all of utah then they will FIND a way to make this deal work out.

[jmonkey]

Well, the stadium still could be built on the State Fairgrounds! Wasn't that a cheaper plan anyway?? Why does this thing keep getting more and more expensive??? I'm more over this development drama than I am over the Hamilton Partner's tower. Could we please just bury them both, and move on.

[jedikermit]

I'm more over this development drama than I am over the Hamilton Partner's tower. Could we please just bury them both, and move on.

:yes: :tup: :cheers: :worship:

[delts145]

Gentlemen, the stadium will happen. There are some very influential and wealthy people who will step in to the picture if Sandy and or the County drops the ball. It's very common for this type of development to squeeze out all public funds possible before construction begins. This is a normal, albeit frustrating part of the process.

[i-215]

I hate to be the RSL raincloud but here's what I think will happen....


2007: RSL will sucker SL County into giving them money for a stadium, even though Rice-Eccles would be fine.

2009: Stadium Completed ... overbudget, smaller, and very very average ... high school bleachers.

2011: RSL announces they aren't selling enough tickets to pay mortgage on stadium.

2013: RSL sold to another major city. SL Country residents get the shaft for loaning money in the first place.

[delts145]

I-215, My bud, :cool: you know I think your one cool dude, and I usually agree with you. But your predictions above are about as accurate as a prediction of the Mormon Church converting a Temple in to a bowling alley.:haha: But I do appreciate your sense of humor. It was sarcasm,right?

[SLC Projects]

I hate to be the RSL raincloud but here's what I think will happen....


2007: RSL will sucker SL County into giving them money for a stadium, even though Rice-Eccles would be fine.

2009: Stadium Completed ... overbudget, smaller, and very very average ... high school bleachers.

2011: RSL announces they aren't selling enough tickets to pay mortgage on stadium.

2013: RSL sold to another major city. SL Country residents get the shaft for loaning money in the first place.



:previous:
Let's hope not.

[SmilingBob]

I hate to be the RSL raincloud but here's what I think will happen....


2007: RSL will sucker SL County into giving them money for a stadium, even though Rice-Eccles would be fine.

2009: Stadium Completed ... overbudget, smaller, and very very average ... high school bleachers.

2011: RSL announces they aren't selling enough tickets to pay mortgage on stadium.

2013: RSL sold to another major city. SL Country residents get the shaft for loaning money in the first place.

Rice-Eccles isn't fine. This is "real" football where you don't want a crown on the field. Also sight lines like the difference between hockey and basketball are different. (it's why the "Delta Center" isn't a good hockey venue).

Just look at what happened after the Utes remodeled Rice-Eccles-- un-defeated season.

Maybe if RSL gets a top notch, first-class facility they will go undefeated. :haha:

I do like the location better than at Rice-Eccles. Easier to get to from Utah county, but not for Weber or Davis county fans.

After that I can somewhat agree with you. If RSL keeps losing, people will stop attending, RSL will move and the county & state will have a great facility to plan high school soccer games and local park and rec games in.

I still say, pay the money, and build the place, but get some concessions built into the contract to protect Utah if they fold or move. (Not a lawyer, so I don't know what they might be that you could hold a bankrupt team to.)

[delts145]

Real's plan short of cash?

By Leigh Dethman
Deseret Morning News
Real Salt Lake might not be able to pay its debts on an ongoing basis, including generating funds for a proposed new stadium in Sandy, a consulting firm reported after reviewing the team's financial plans.
But the Major League Soccer franchise says the report failed to look at the big picture, including the stadium's potential as a major concert venue.
An independent financial review released Friday predicts that even in the best of circumstances, Real Salt Lake will fall more than $1 million short of paying its debt for the stadium.
In a worst-case scenario, Real would have only $201,000 in the bank to pay off at least $3.3 million in debt a year, according to the report by Economics Research Associates. The report looked only at the stadium's cash flow, not the team's overall operations, including a radio station.
Real Salt Lake leaders believe they can make more than enough money through ticket sales and concerts at the stadium to pay off the debt.
If that doesn't work, the team has a backup plan: additional profits made through Real's profit-sharing agreement with MLS and radio and team operations. In 2009, that amount is projected at $3.7 million.
Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said finding out if Real can pay off its debts is key to a stadium funding deal.
"That really is what's going to make it or break it," Corroon said. His staff is plugging in both Real's financial projections and ERA's numbers to come up with the county's own model. "We'll see how it turns out."
ERA's report considers Real's business plan a little too ambitious. That was an assumption that team officials knew was coming.
"With all due respect to ERA, their assumptions are, in our view, unrealistically conservative," said Gary Reimer, Real's chief financial officer.
Team owner Dave Checketts believes he can book 11 concerts a year, but the ERA report said at best, the stadium could bring in six concerts.
Joel Peresman, president and chief executive officer of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said Checketts' plan for 11 concerts a year "is easily attainable." Peresman has worked for Checketts in the past, when they both were employed at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Peresman said Checketts and his management team "are uniquely qualified, experienced and have the entertainment-business connections that position them to be able to maximize concert traffic for this new facility."
At minimum, the ERA report said, Checketts could expect two concerts a year at the Sandy stadium.
That baffles Real officials.
"To suggest we would only put on two concerts a year, we just can't fathom that," Reimer said. "Why would we even be in this business? I just don't understand how they conclude that."
Jeff Cohen, ERA's director of sports facilities consulting, said the fact that other outdoor venues nationwide have trouble booking concerts and Utah's climate — which only allows outdoor events five months out of the year — led the firm to predict a low number of concerts at the Sandy stadium.
After the Deseret Morning News asked what would happen if Real could book 10 concerts, Cohen re-ran the numbers. If that happens, the stadium would have $3.2 million in the bank after operating expenses to pay off stadium construction bonds — still $100,000 short of Real's potential debt payments.
"We have not found any outdoor venue that does double digit concerts on an annual basis," Cohen said. "There are only so many acts going around. The concerts are a big driver in this venue."
Real officials believe there are more than enough tours to go around, as other outdoor venues are able to book more than triple the number of shows Real plans.
At Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheater, organizers host up to 40 concerts a year, with a capacity of 10,000 seats. And at Jones Beach Amphitheater in New York, with approximately 15,000 seats, 40-plus concerts fill the stage yearly.
ERA also softened Real's predictions for ticket prices.
The team forecasts a 29 percent jump in average ticket prices from the year the stadium opens in 2008 until 2012 — with prices jumping from $22.78 to $29.42.
ERA believes the Salt Lake market can't follow that trend. The ERA report shows just 10 percent growth in ticket prices during that same time frame, with prices starting out at $22.50 on the stadium's opening day, capping out at $24.85 per ticket in 2012.
Salt Lake County leaders hired the financial-consulting firm to evaluate the stadium's operations and the team's business plan.
The Debt Review Committee is trying to determine if Real Salt Lake is a worthy business in which to invest public dollars. A decision from the committee could come as soon as Monday.
Both Corroon and the County Council have said a stadium-funding deal hinges on the committee's approval. Real Salt Lake is asking for $30 million in hotel-tax revenue from the county and $15 million in redevelopment agency dollars from Sandy.
The committee will meet again Monday and is scheduled to either make a recommendation or give a status report to the council on Tuesday.

Deseret Morning News graphic

http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/0120rslg.jpg

[Happy Valley Freak]

damn it it's my guess that we better kiss em goodbye! grr and I was looking foward to having a pro soccer team in utah, oh well guess it's just our luck

[SLC Projects]

damn it it's my guess that we better kiss em goodbye! grr and I was looking foward to having a pro soccer team in utah, oh well guess it's just our luck



Happy valley freak, we can't just give up on RSL yet. There's still hope that a deal will be make. The way I see it, it's not over til it's over. :yes:

[DevdogAZ]

I just don't understand why anyone in Utah (or anywhere else) cares about this. Nobody watches the MLS. Supposedly it's a "major league" but they barely ever mention it on national sportscasts. I'll be surprised if the league lasts much longer, as every time I hear anything about it, it's that attendance is down across the board, the TV ratings are abysmal, and that all the decent talent is going to Europe.

So whether the stadium deal goes through or not, I think I-215's predictions are the most likely to happen. It's just a dead-end league and even though Utah doesn't have much else in the sports department, you really shouldn't be putting this much effort into this deal.

[wrendog]

I just don't understand why anyone in Utah (or anywhere else) cares about this. Nobody watches the MLS. Supposedly it's a "major league" but they barely ever mention it on national sportscasts. I'll be surprised if the league lasts much longer, as every time I hear anything about it, it's that attendance is down across the board, the TV ratings are abysmal, and that all the decent talent is going to Europe.

So whether the stadium deal goes through or not, I think I-215's predictions are the most likely to happen. It's just a dead-end league and even though Utah doesn't have much else in the sports department, you really shouldn't be putting this much effort into this deal.

no, it's not a "major league" sport by NFL, NBA, MLB standards, but it is the top league of it's sport. and no, attendance is NOT down and interest IS on the way up. We live in a 1 horse town and whenever any league wants to play here (especially top league in it's sport) then we will take it in hopes that one of the other big 2 comes to town.

[anyiliang]

[QUOTE=DevdogAZ;2578672] and that all the decent talent is going to Europe.QUOTE]

Not true. Look at the deal that LA Galaxy did with Europe's number one player David Beckham. See more of these coming in the future.

[jmonkey]

But meanwhile, the Utah taxpayer is stuck with more and more public funds being spent on this project, and a team that will not give them any guarantees. From a development stand-point, public funding of stadium deals is incredibly dubious, and has very little return, other than for sports fans, athletes, team owners, and advertisers. And now it's a concert venue as well?? Are they aware that there are already several outdoor venues along the wasatch? This thing gets more and more disappointing.

[Makid]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=835950

(KSL News) We've just learned of a devastating setback for the ReAl Salt Lake stadium project.

In the past hour, the Salt Lake County Debt Review Committee voted AGAINST putting the county's hotel tax revenue toward a soccer stadium.

The vote was based on a financial model that projected a much lower profit margin for the Sandy stadium than that put forward by the team.

County representatives on Capitol Hill told KSL they were shocked that it was a 4-to-0 vote.

Looks like this may be the end of the stadium.

[newkidontheblock]

So, maybe they can move to Lehi too? If things don't work out for RSL, as a huge soccer fan, I will be disappointed.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5094415

[wrendog]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe the drama with this stupid stadium!!!! if RSL leaves, I will be pissed!

[DevdogAZ]

and that all the decent talent is going to Europe.

Not true. Look at the deal that LA Galaxy did with Europe's number one player David Beckham. See more of these coming in the future.

Sure, Beckham is coming to LA, but he's way past his prime and it's just a publicity grab by him and by the team, not a true effort by the team to try and get good talent. It smacks of when Gretzky went to the Blues and Rangers at the end of his career, or when Montana went to the Chiefs. Sure, Beckham might have a decent year or two left in him, but this signing is not about top talent coming to the MLS. It's all about Beckham, whose name is worth millions in the European market, trying to create the same market for his name here in the U.S. and MLS trying to cash in on it.

[Makid]

I think a lot of us will be upset if they leave.

I was looking foward to this deal going through. Mostly because of the soccer acadamy that would have been built in SLC. But also because it is another top level sport.

All the people that came to SLC when Real Madrid came, most came to see Beckham.

I really hope that the SL County Council looks at the benefits and agrees to fund the infrustructure for the stadium.

With the eyes of the soccer world on SL County, now would be the time to act for the benefit of the growing sport, not for thoughts of debt.

[i-215]

Debt Review Committee says Real Salt Lake not financially viable
By Leigh Dethman
Deseret Morning News

Real Salt Lake is not financially viable, the Salt Lake County Debt Review Committee ruled Friday.
Now Mayor Peter Corroon must decide if he will go against the committee's recommendation and still vote to give the team $30 million in public funding.
"It's my decision, and I'll live with the consequences," Corroon said. He said he expects to make a decision within a week.
Real officials bolted after the committee meeting and did not answer questions from the media.
The team's weaknesses far outweighed the strengths, according to the committee's recommendation to Corroon. One major weakness was that the committee believes Real won't be able to pay off its debts.
"That's the problem there, they end up with so much debt and so much debt service," said Larry Richardson, county treasurer and chairman of the committee. "I said from the get-go, if it didn't cover the debt service, I couldn't vote for it."
Real Salt Lake leaders believe they can make more than enough money through ticket sales and concerts at the stadium to pay off the debt.
However, the committee didn't believe all of Real's "sunny" concert assumptions, said Doug Willmore, the county's chief administrative officer.
The committee was also concerned that the team's private investors would not commit funds if the team continues to lose money.


----------------


Ouch! I mean, I can be a real raincloud about the whole RSL stadium thing ... but those looks worse than I thought. Maybe that means the RSL Stadium isn't going to happen. Rats.

[SLC Projects]

^&%&$#......................That's it then. Salt Lake is going to lose the team. :hell:

[Makid]

I have heard the debt review commitee also said that Franklin Covey was a bad idea as well as the E-Center. And they were still built.

I now see a lot of back door meetings and phone calls going on.

In the end, someone will mention to the county that since they will own the land, they aren't going to lose anything in the deal. And then sometime Tuesday night, we will hear about breaking news from the County Offices. Mayor Corroon will hold a press conference with Checketts and Fredie Adu, stating that the stadium deal is complete and construction will begin before the weekend.

Okay, that is my prediction based on previous Utah politics regarding sporting arenas.

[delts145]

I have heard the debt review commitee also said that Franklin Covey was a bad idea as well as the E-Center. And they were still built.

I now see a lot of back door meetings and phone calls going on.

In the end, someone will mention to the county that since they will own the land, they aren't going to lose anything in the deal. And then sometime Tuesday night, we will hear about breaking news from the County Offices. Mayor Corroon will hold a press conference with Checketts and Fredie Adu, stating that the stadium deal is complete and construction will begin before the weekend.

Okay, that is my prediction based on previous Utah politics regarding sporting arenas.

Makid, your prediction might seem a little optimistic to some, but I say you are DEAD ON. Especially with emphasis on the back door meetings and phone calls part. I've said it before and I will say it again,"There are some very influencial people who will not let this die."

[jedikermit]

...all that may be true, but I have concerns about whether or not this can turn a profit too. Maybe it's best to plant the seeds now and get it in, and then 10-20 years from now we'll have the population to sustain it; but right now it's not gonna pull its own weight with either soccer or concert revenue.

Sometimes when you build it...they don't come.

[delts145]

:tup: I agree with you Jedi that we should build it now. I also feel that the stadium will have a resounding draw amongst Utahn's and their families, now. No other sport has wider appeal amongst kids, and one thing that Utahn's are very much about, are their kids. That's what this stadium and its surrounding fields should be about more than anything else,"the kids."


County number-crunchers call it a risky investment

By Leigh Dethman
Deseret Morning News
A stadium deal for Real Salt Lake could be dead by next week.
Salt Lake County's Debt Review Committee unanimously voted Tuesday that giving $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to help finance the $110 million soccer stadium in Sandy is a risky investment. Two members of the committee abstained from voting.
County Mayor Peter Corroon now must weigh the odds. He said he will decide early next week whether to recommend that the Salt Lake County Council commit public funding for the stadium.
"I'm not one who has never taken gambles in my life," Corroon said. "But if I don't think it's a risk worth taking, I won't."
Team owner Dave Checketts believes public funding for a stadium is not a gamble at all.
"There is little to no risk for the taxpayers of Salt Lake County," Checketts said in a written statement.
Even in the "unlikely" event that the team fails and abandons the stadium, Checketts said, the county still comes out on top: Salt Lake County would still hold "substantial assets" after the team leaves, including $13 million in land that will appreciate in value over the years and a shared parking lot with the South Towne Exposition Center.
The team would also have to pay the county $10 million if it moves within 30 years, if Corroon were to approve the deal.
But that wasn't enough to sway the Debt Review Committee. The team's weaknesses far outweighed the strengths, according to the committee's recommendation to Corroon.
The deal-breaker for committee chairman Larry Richardson was that he believes Real won't be able to pay off its debts. The committee based its decision on a financial model that blended the team's projections with figures from an independent financial consultant.
According to the committee's financial model, the team wouldn't have enough money to pay its $3.3 million in yearly debt obligations in four out of the next seven years.
"That's the problem there — they end up with so much debt and so much debt service," said Richardson, who also serves as county treasurer. "I said from the get-go, if it didn't cover the debt service, I couldn't vote for it."
Real Salt Lake leaders believe that they can make more than enough money through ticket sales and concerts at the stadium to pay off the debt.
The committee, however, didn't believe all of Real's "sunny" concert assumptions, said Doug Willmore, the county's chief administrative officer.
The committee's hybrid financial model cut the team's concert projections in half: The team forecast 11 to 18 concerts a year, but the committee predicted four to 11 a year. The committee also shaved the team's concert-attendance projections by 5,500 fans.
County number-crunchers also slashed projected attendance figures at Real games: The committee believes Real can get only as many as 12,800 people to buy tickets in 2013, while Real believes nearly 17,000 will pay up.
Checketts said he knows he can achieve Real's projections, because he's a veteran in the sports business.
"Throughout the review of our proposal, the committee has undervalued our experience in building and running professional franchises and entertainment venues," Checketts said. "Further, they have overvalued a pessimistic view that Salt Lake County really doesn't have the people and the market to make this sort of 'major league' project a reality. We continue to disagree with this sort of attitude."
Another weakness in the Real business plan was the financial "uncertainties," according to the committee's recommendation to the mayor. The team has only a "moral obligation" with the county to give the team $10 million in 2011 and another $10 million in 2015. If a future County Council were to decide not to bond for that money, the committee wasn't sure what would happen to the team's finances.
The other major uncertainty is the amount that Sandy would contribute to the project. The original deal plan, agreed to last August, called for $30 million from the county, $15 million from Sandy and an undisclosed amount from private investors.
The committee believes Sandy can raise only $7.5 million through a redevelopment-agency bond, although no taxing district has committed its money yet.
Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan insists the city can come up with the $7.5 million in redevelopment-agency dollars for the stadium.
"I'm not surprised about anything that happens in Salt Lake County," said Dolan. "We weren't invited to give much input into it, and I think they're using it as a scapegoat in their decision-making process. We know how we can come up with the money for it. But that's really not of interest to them. That's a cop-out."
Dolan said Corroon promised he would call the Sandy leader before he makes his decision next week. Sandy's next course of action will be determined after that, Dolan said.
Although Real insists it can't survive without a stadium of its own, Checketts isn't giving up yet.
"We remain hopeful that Mayor Corroon and the County Council will look beyond politics and have the vision to do what is best for Salt Lake County," Checketts said.


http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/0127rsl.jpg
Deseret Morning News graphic

[i-215]

If Real had a winning season (like National champs) then they'll succeed. If not they'll fizzle like the Golden Eagles and get sold.

I think the only reason Jazz are here is because Larry played philanthropist and was willing to lose for a while to keep them. Frankly, Larry could probably have no trouble selling tha Jazz, but even when the going gets tough, he's a Jazz fan. Heck, he even owns a TV stations just to air the games.

However, if RSL is going to be nickle-and-dime-ing the county for money forever, I can't see them lasting too long.

[delts145]

By Rosemary Winters
and Derek P. Jensen
The Salt Lake Tribune

SANDY - City officials are moving forward with plans to bring Real Salt Lake's soccer stadium to this southern Salt Lake County suburb even as questions remain about the city's ability to help fund the project and whether county government will quash the deal.
On Thursday, Sandy's Planning Commission listened to the team's engineering consultant outline traffic and parking issues surrounding the proposed stadium site near 9400 South and State Street. The team hopes the commission will sign off on its site plan in the next month so construction can begin.
Randy Sant, Sandy's economic development director, told Salt Lake County officials this week that Sandy may be providing $8 million to $9 million for the stadium, instead of the $15 million previously promised.
But that's not a problem, Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan said in an interview Thursday.
Sandy's commitment, in the form of tax-increment financing, has always hinged on the size of the project that Real Salt Lake builds, Dolan said.
"What we're saying is we don't have any other funds" for the stadium than the property taxes produced by the project, itself, Dolan said, noting the city would never tap general funds.
"Real has assured us that they would make up a gap, if there is a gap."
So Dolan won't be asking the Legislature to make up Sandy's balance in the public-private partnership. But he indicated he may seek a stadium solution on Capitol Hill should Salt Lake County back out, dropping its $30 million pledge.
Salt Lake County's independent financial consultants are presenting their findings to the county's debt review team today.
"Hopefully, the county will make a [positive] decision. We'll see how it goes," Dolan said. If the county pulls out of the project, "then I'll look to the Legislature to help - but not with state funds."
Sandy's ability to pony up $15 million for the stadium partly hinges on whether Jordan School District agrees to forfeit property taxes it would collect from new development. Sandy is legally required to ask all the taxing entities in the area whether they want to opt into the project.
Although Jordan School District has not taken an official position, public sentiment has been clear, according to spokeswoman Melinda Colton.
One day after Sandy's Sant broached the topic at a county meeting, phones began "ringing off the hook," she said.
"People are calling in to express their outrage," she said, noting that "99.9 percent" of the feedback has been against the idea.
Dolan added that he doesn't intend to use restaurant sales taxes to help fund the stadium, should a bill pass that would redistribute a portion collected by Salt Lake County to the cities where the taxes are generated.
Instead, Dolan would like to see Sandy's share of restaurant taxes fund a community arts center.

[delts145]

Turns out, Sandy can generate the $15 million in redevelopment dollars pledged to Real Salt Lake even without participation from the Jordan School District, the suburb's economic development director says. Randy Sant suggested Friday that if Salt Lake County approves public funding for the proposed soccer stadium, Sandy could funnel the new property taxes to RSL in two installments. "We will consider issuing $10 million based on the $110 million taxing entity for the stadium now," Sant said. "Then, when Real expands to $135 million [for a planned hotel and broadcast studio], we could issue the extra $5 million." Sant's comments contradict earlier statements that the city could come up with only $11 million without the school money, leaving a $4 million gap. On Thursday, Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan said RSL would have to cover such a funding hole. But Sant suggests a better tax rate would allow the suburb to cover the cost. "We don't think the school district will change its mind in any way, shape or form," Sant said. Dean Howes, the team's CEO, said he is certain the "Sandy problem will get solved." But county Mayor Peter Corroon is less convinced. "That's still a big question," he said. - Derek P. Jensen

[SLC Projects]

This whole RSL news has been keeping me on the edge of my seat for a week now. Are they going to built it? or not? :shrug:

Looks like Sandy city really wants the stadium to work out since having it in their city would help Sandy out.

But what bugs me the most is the team owner Dave Checketts. ( I think that's how his last name is spelled ) Anyway You'd think he would have the money, or at least most of the money to build the Stadium, but yet he expects the county and Sandy city to fork over all the money to build his stadium. :koko:

I met Dave once and for what I could see he seem like a stuck up rich guy who thinks he's better then everyone and does really care for the people, unless they make HIM money. :hell:

[newkidontheblock]

But what bugs me the most is the team owner Dave Checketts. ( I think that's how his last name is spelled ) Anyway You'd think he would have the money, or at least most of the money to build the Stadium, but yet he expects the county and Sandy city to fork over all the money to build his stadium. :koko:

:


Projects,

While I don't wish to get into all of the politics here, the money they are requesting is for infrastructure like roads, sewer, power lines, etc. The money they are requesting would not go towards the stadium itself. Just like you wouldn't expect a builder to pay for the roads, sewer, power lines, etc. that lead to his property, RSL does not wish to pay for theirs. At some point this money will be spent regardless, to make this raw land developable, and to provide the necessary upgrades to the surrounding roads.

Mayor Caroon has very little to lose in the form of our money (this money is a new tax that is a transient tax, the county would own this prime piece of real estate, and there is a safeguard that RSL must pay the county 10 million if the they leave or fold), but he does have a lot to loose in the public eye. The biggest problem I see with this (other than it will not be downtown) is that the majority of the public is not educated on how this complex arrangement is set up. If you ask most people, they simply say that they do not want their tax money going into the hands of some rich guy that should do it himself. They point to how the Delta Center didn’t need a hand out (FYI they did receive a very comparable package). The very papers that are against RSL getting this money are made in a facility that they received 10 million in subsidies to build.

[Comrade Reynolds]

If Real had a winning season (like National champs) then they'll succeed. If not they'll fizzle like the Golden Eagles and get sold.

I think the only reason Jazz are here is because Larry played philanthropist and was willing to lose for a while to keep them. Frankly, Larry could probably have no trouble selling tha Jazz, but even when the going gets tough, he's a Jazz fan. Heck, he even owns a TV stations just to air the games.

However, if RSL is going to be nickle-and-dime-ing the county for money forever, I can't see them lasting too long.

The Golden Eagles never "fizzled", Miller just sold them for no real reason. This was after he promised the Salt Lake community that he wouldn't give the team up, as they had been a staple in the community for 25 years. Though the Golden Eagles weren't winning like they did from 1973-'92 (they made the playoffs every year during that span), they still had some of the highest attendance numbers in the IHL.

They had established themselves as Salt Lake's biggest professional team, long before the Jazz arrived in Salt Lake City. Then when they started losing, Miller sold them to a Michigan group and the rest is history. I'd take the Golden Eagles, playing in a nice arena downtown, over the damn Utah Grizzlies.

[davericard]

I just heard on the radio that Perter Caroon made the decision not to build the stadium. Checketts said ReAl will stay in SLC this year and be sold.

[Makid]

I heard the same thing. Hopefully there is something going on to save it. But it is looking like it is gone.

[delts145]

KSL Newsradio: Soccer stadium deal is dead

KSL Newsradio this morning is reporting that plans to build a soccer stadium in Salt Lake County are dead.
KSL's Doug Wright spoke with Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts this morning. Checketts says based on a phone conversation he had with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, Real Salt Lake soccer is done. Checketts says the team will likely stay in Utah for one more year, then it will probably be sold.
On Friday, the Salt Lake County Debt Review Committee voted unanimously that giving $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to help finance the $110 million soccer stadium in Sandy is a risky investment.
At the time, Corroon said he would decide early this week whether to recommend that the Salt Lake County Council commit public funding for the stadium.

[delts145]

KSL Newsradio: Soccer stadium deal is dead

KSL Newsradio this morning is reporting that plans to build a soccer stadium in Salt Lake County are dead.
KSL's Doug Wright spoke with Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts this morning. Checketts says based on a phone conversation he had with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, Real Salt Lake soccer is done. Checketts says the team will likely stay in Utah for one more year, then it will probably be sold.
On Friday, the Salt Lake County Debt Review Committee voted unanimously that giving $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to help finance the $110 million soccer stadium in Sandy is a risky investment.
At the time, Corroon said he would decide early this week whether to recommend that the Salt Lake County Council commit public funding for the stadium.

[DevdogAZ]

:tup: I agree with you Jedi that we should build it now. I also feel that the stadium will have a resounding draw amongst Utahn's and their families, now. No other sport has wider appeal amongst kids, and one thing that Utahn's are very much about, are their kids. That's what this stadium and its surrounding fields should be about more than anything else,"the kids."
While this probably doesn't matter anymore, the only reason soccer has a wide appeal among kids is because parents can put kids in a soccer league when they're 4-7 years old and know that the kids can have fun even if they don't understand anything. Most coaches of kids that age just tell the kids to run after the ball, and watching a game of kids that age is like watching a flock of birds wheel back and forth in the sky. Once kids are old enough to start understanding the strategy of baseball, and starting to develop the hand-eye coordination necessary for baseball and basketball, they leave soccer by the wayside. I'll bet that the numbers of kids playing soccer in the 4-7 age range is WAY bigger than the number playing in the 8-10 range. After that, I'll bet it drops off even more.

Basically, soccer fans can claim all they want that kids love soccer, but really it's just a matter of soccer being the least complicated game, which allows younger kids to participate. I don't think it has anything to do with the appeal of the game itself.

[delts145]

:previous:
The overwhelming majority of the world's sporting population would rip that opinion to SHREDS.
We Americans have our right to pick amongst many different sports. There are several which hold alot of appeal for me and for most Forumers. IMHO soccer is anything but what is described above.

[DevdogAZ]

:previous:
The overwhelming majority of the world's sporting population would rip that opinion to SHREDS.
We Americans have our right to pick amongst many different sports. There are several which hold alot of appeal for me and for most Forumers. IMHO soccer is anything but what is described above.

If you want to rip it to shreds, go ahead and do so. Don't just say that others would be able to. The fact that soccer is so popular throughout the world is irrelevant when you're discussing the U.S. where it's not even in the top 5. I just think it's funny when I see people/articles touting the growing popularity of soccer because of all the kids playing the game. Hell, I played the game 30 years ago as did everyone I know who was in that age range. But as I (and everyone else) got old enough to start playing other sports, I only have one friend that stuck with soccer through high school.

[Comrade Reynolds]

http://www.joelawtonphoto.com/wallpaper/fireworks_springtime_800x600.jpg

[jedikermit]

I agree with your assessment, DevDog...I teach 12/13 year olds, and there are still a few who like to PLAY soccer, but even they don't follow the professional games. Basketball, Football, and Baseball. That's what it's about for them.

And I can't say I'm sorry to see RSL or the Stadium go. RSL was an interesting experiment, but I don't think the Salt Lake area has the population to keep the sports franchises they've already got, let alone new ones. The Jazz rarely fill the Energy Solutions Arena, the Bees' baseball games are about half-full when we go (usually 3x per summer), and the Grizzlies...well, I honestly don't know about them.

It'll be interesting to see how the NBA D-League team in Utah County plays out. Yes, there's a lot of growth, but it's still a lot of teams and sports all competing for the same $$$.

[wrendog]

Dammit!

[delts145]

Dammit!

I agree with you Wrendog. However, this is not a done deal yet. Just watch, "there's going to be a lot more to this than what a few naysayers seem to realize." This situation had to play itself out and there will still be some give and take as far as public participation. A deal for a stadium will still take place.

[Makid]

Rocky has contacted both Dave Checkets and Gov. Huntsman and is again pushing the Fair Grounds for the stadium. He is doing all that he can to get this thing built in SLC.

[N2I.F.]

Dammit!

I agree too.:(

[Comrade Reynolds]

Rocky has contacted both Dave Checkets and Gov. Huntsman and is again pushing the Fair Grounds for the stadium. He is doing all that he can to get this thing built in SLC.

I'd go for that.

[SLC Projects]

http://www.joelawtonphoto.com/wallpaper/fireworks_springtime_800x600.jpg


:previous:
What the hell is wrong with you? No really don't you have a brain in your head? If you really think about it not only did we lose soccer, but now who the hell will want to bring a pro team here to salt lake now after this. ( football, baseball ) So yea let's cheer just how much salt lake got %%&*%$ over. What a great idea. :koko:

[delts145]

SLC, I understand your frustration, but you'll notice that Comrade seems to like the idea of soccer at the Fairgrounds location.

Comrade, what was the reason you hated the Sandy location, and why do you think the fairgrounds would work better? I myself would prefer downtown over all locations. However, I would much rather have Sandy than nothing.

[SLC Projects]

I for one think this was a big mistake. ( I kind of saw this coming for awhile now )

But I think it's just bullshit that our county leaders can't seem to get their heads out of their ass and see just how bad this is going to hurt not only the fans, but all of salt lake and utah. We are going to end up losing RSL to freaking New York or some other state that already has every freaking PRO team out there. And all we are going to have is the Utah Jazz.
I for one am EMARRASS to even be a utahn right now. What a black eye this will leave on our state. No one will ever what to expand or move a Pro team to utah ever again. Why? Cus our dumb ass courty leaders and Perter Caroon just prove to the rest of the country the SALT LAKE CAN'T SURPORT A PRO TEAM!
I think mayor Rocky Anderson said it best when he blames it all on the county leaders saying just how bad this makes us look as leaders and that this will leave a black eye on us for a while. :hell:
There are alot of people out there who love soccor and loved RSL. It's a fast growing sport in both the country and here in salt lake.
Once again I'm embarrass and so should our leaders for $^^&%$ing this up.
:maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown: :maddown:

[SLC Projects]

SLC, I understand your frustration, but you'll notice that Comrade seems to like the idea of soccer at the Fairgrounds location.

Comrade, what was the reason you hated the Sandy location, and why do you think the fairgrounds would work better?


:previous:
Maybe I out of line here.
But Comrade hated RSL since day one just because it wasn't going to be built downtown. That is the only reason. And since then he just wanted not only the Sandy deal to fail, but all of RSL being in utah to fail altogether.
People like him bug me. Why? It's just the way they think, "If it's not going to be built downtown, then we don't want it AT ALL" what crap. Be better to have it in Sandy or even Utah county then freaking New York. :hell:

[delts145]

.....And Mr. Wrendog said, "DAMMIT"

I agree too.:(

I agree three,four,five and six!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:( :( :( :(

[Ute_City]

I don't give a crap about Real SL or soccer. I think it is a waste and Dave Checketts had demonstrated himself to be a prick once again. I've said this before, but they better keep tax money handy because in 15 - 20 years Larry Miller (or his son) will be crying for a new arena for the Jazz because it is status quo for every team to get a new arena every 15 - 30 years. Hell knows the Jazz are more valuable to the community than a 5th rated sport. The only downside of losing RSL would be that it would make the market less attractive to woo Major League Baseball or (*laugh*) NFL to Salt Lake.

Besides, sounds like a group in Utah County is looking to buy the team and place it on the old Geneva Steel site as they tried in the past.

[Ute_City]

:previous:
Be better to have it in Sandy or even Utah county then freaking New York. :hell:

New York has a team, unless you mean Rochester. Awhile back http://www.arenadigest.com said that St. Louis and Kansas City were in the hunt for RSL.

[delts145]

Real could be sold as early as Friday; Corroon refuses stadium funding

By Leigh Dethman
Deseret Morning News
Bye-bye, Real Salt Lake.
Team owner Dave Checketts told Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon Monday he could sell the team as early as Friday. The surprise announcement came just after Corroon told Checketts the county refused to invest $30 million in a soccer stadium for the team in Sandy.
The team will likely play one more season at Rice Eccles Stadium before moving on to a new city and new owner, Checketts told KSL Newsradio's Doug Wright this morning. Team officials said a statement will be released later this afternoon with Real's reaction to Corroon's decision.
Corroon said he would like to see the team come up with another way to fund the stadium.
"If anybody wanted this to work, it was me," Corroon said. "I'd love to see the team stay here. Bottom line, it didn't make sense."
Corroon called the $30 million in hotel taxes an "unsafe investment," since the team could easily default on bills with only minor shortfalls in ticket sales.
Corroon also based his decision on a recommendation from the county's Debt Review Committee that the team is not financially viable. The committee found that Real wouldn't have enough money to pay its $3.3 million in yearly debt obligations in four out of the next seven years.
"When the risk is such that it's gambling, we just didn't want to take that gamble," Corroon said. "This is an unsafe investment for the county."
Now the state might take the gamble.
House Speaker Greg Curtis said Monday he might redirect the hotel-room tax legislation directly to the soccer stadium, but only if other legislators agree.
"I kinda feel like the lone legislator. I'm one out of 104 — I've got to get 53 people to say, 'Hey that's a good idea,' and I haven't even tried yet," Curtis said.
He has a blank bill, Transient Room Taxes Amendments, that he says would direct the county on how to spend the hotel-room tax money, as well as urge county leaders to finally start construction on a parking garage at the South Towne Exposition Center.
Leftover money not used on the parking garage could possibly fund an expansion at the Hogle Zoo or a TRAX line to the Salt Lake City International Airport, Curtis said. Curtis has threatened in the past that if the county didn't fund the soccer stadium, he might push to redirect hotel-tax dollars to the airport TRAX line.
But Curtis isn't giving up yet. He said he still might make a last-ditch effort in these last four weeks of the legislative session to find a way to fund the soccer stadium.
Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan said he was frustrated he had to hear the news from reporters instead of Corroon himself. Even so, he wasn't surprised by the news.
"I'm sorry there is no vision in Salt Lake County government," Dolan said. "It's unfortunate. It sends a message that we're not willing to bring major league sports here.
"That's a detriment to the entire community."

[SLC Projects]

New York has a team, unless you mean Rochester. Awhile back http://www.arenadigest.com said that St. Louis and Kansas City were in the hunt for RSL.


I think I was hearing something about upstate new york could be buying RSL. But yea like I said New York has enough Pro teams how it is.

[delts145]

I think Sandy City, House Speaker Curtis, and Govenor Huntsman will put a deal together. There are definately enough Republican state legislatures who will view Corroon's attitude as lacking and shuffle some county money toward the stadium. Whether you like him or not Checketts is pro-Utah, and will cool his anger long enough to listen to Curtis and Huntsman.
It would be kind of hilarious if the Utah County group made their offer so attractive that the stadium went to Provo/Orem. I would really be surprised if that happened though.

[Cirrus]

This does not need to be so personal, folks. Tone it down.

[urbane]

:previous:
Maybe I out of line here.
But Comrade hated RSL since day one just because it wasn't going to be built downtown. That is the only reason. And since then he just wanted not only the Sandy deal to fail, but all of RSL being in utah to fail altogether.
People like him bug me. Why? It's just the way they think, "If it's not going to be built downtown, then we don't want it AT ALL" what crap. Be better to have it in Sandy or even Utah county then freaking New York. :hell:

I agree wth Comrade. If it isn't going to be built downtown then screw'm!
There are only so many people to support venues, teams etc. and if they take them away from downtown like RSL wants to do than to hell with them. I only support teams and institiutions that support downtown. If they move to new york then downtown will be better off then it would be having RSL in Sandy. Downtown or go to hell, sorry soccer fans.

[Comrade Reynolds]

Firstly, I don't hate RSL because they chose Sandy over Salt Lake. I hate RSL for the way things went about. I feel they completely screwed Salt Lake City over for personal reasons and I have a problem with that. Secondly, yeah I do think the stadium would be better downtown and not out in the suburbs. Sandy cheated its way to the stadium, cozying up with the Utah legislature, who then turned around and made it impossible for SLC to build the stadium. Call me crazy, but I can't help but smile at it all blowing up in their faces.

[wrendog]

well, KSL reporting that the Geneva Steel guys are still interested and want to put forth a deal to checketts for free land.. if Checketts doesn't want that, the geneva guys will be first in line to buy the team... as much as this would irk comrade and others, I hope this happens...

of course, if SLC gets the stadium, that would be the best option, but if not, bring it down here!

[Viperlord]

Hmm, finally sandy gets what they deserve. I have been told by the season ticket representative when i asked about a new arena for the jazz...that the EsArena will likely undergo a huge makeover and remodel before they build a new arena.

[SLC Projects]

well, KSL reporting that the Geneva Steel guys are still interested and want to put forth a deal to checketts for free land.. if Checketts doesn't want that, the geneva guys will be first in line to buy the team... as much as this would irk comrade and others, I hope this happens...

of course, if SLC gets the stadium, that would be the best option, but if not, bring it down here!




Finaly some good news. Better to have it down in utah country then out of state. :yes:
While some might think that if it's not build downtown salt lake then forget them, but I believe that having a RSL stadium will be good for all of the wasatch front. not just salt lake city.

[blm3034L!fe]

well, KSL reporting that the Geneva Steel guys are still interested and want to put forth a deal to checketts for free land.. if Checketts doesn't want that, the geneva guys will be first in line to buy the team... as much as this would irk comrade and others, I hope this happens...

of course, if SLC gets the stadium, that would be the best option, but if not, bring it down here!

Does anyone know if Chris Cannon still owns Geneva Steel? A good friend of mine growing up, his mother in-law was Chris Cannon's sister. They were pretty nice people IMO, I was just curious? He was a pretty hard core business man from what I understand, I'll let you in on a little secret. His father was 10 times the business man Chris ever was. Chris's father has done well enough to have neighbors such as Bill Gates in Washington, if that gives you any kind of idea how successful Chris's father was in business. And a move like that sounds like Chris IMO...

[SLC Rocks]

Firstly, I don't hate RSL because they chose Sandy over Salt Lake. I hate RSL for the way things went about. I feel they completely screwed Salt Lake City over for personal reasons and I have a problem with that. Secondly, yeah I do think the stadium would be better downtown and not out in the suburbs. Sandy cheated its way to the stadium, cozying up with the Utah legislature, who then turned around and made it impossible for SLC to build the stadium. Call me crazy, but I can't help but smile at it all blowing up in their faces.

I couldn't agree more with Comrade. It wasn't a sustainable project on its own in Sandy or even Downtown (unless free land). I wouldn't care were the damn thing was built if Checketts could make it work on his own or even with a smaller subsidy, but he can't so cry me a fucking river. :banana: :banana: :banana:

[jedikermit]

Yeah, I'm more concerned with Checketts & co. inflating their revenue numbers on paper to try to sell their stadium--nothing they've shown for either soccer attendance or concert attendance has even come close to reality for other venues--he's trying to lie his way to the bank.

[delts145]

Corroon says no deal

Checketts is considering selling the soccer team

By Leigh Dethman
Deseret Morning News
No more marriage counseling. No more threats. No more sleeping on the couch.
After nearly a year of back and forth, deal or no deal, the divorce is final between Salt Lake County and Real Salt Lake.
Now Real is ready to look for new suitors.
Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon ended the relationship Monday after announcing the county will not give Real $30 million to build a stadium in Sandy. He said he's through negotiating on the $110 million project in Sandy.
The decision was met with snide political remarks from team owner Dave Checketts, who says Corroon used the decision to further his political career.
"It's been up and down. I hate to see it ending with insults and accusations, because they've actually been really good to work with the past few months," Corroon said.
Checketts said investors in eight cities across the country are interested in acquiring a Major League Soccer franchise.
Checketts bought the team in 2004 for $10 million. If he sells it, he could earn considerably more. Washington's D.C. United sold earlier this month for roughly $33 million, but that team has made it to the playoffs and is in a much larger market.
Two cities have expressed interest in keeping the team in Utah.
Michael Hutchings, co-owner of Anderson Geneva, said his company is interested in buying Real and building a stadium in Lindon at the old Geneva Steel site.
"We've got the money and financial backing to do it," Hutchings said. Anderson Geneva is an affiliate of Sandy-based Anderson Development LLC. "The worst-case scenario would be if the team left Utah. We don't want to see that happen."
Before making an offer to buy the team, Hutchings will once again offer 30 acres of free land at the Geneva site for the stadium. He tried to lure the team to Utah County in July after the Salt Lake County Council rejected a funding deal for the stadium.
If that doesn't work, and Checketts still decides to sell the team, Hutchings said he'll be the first in line.
Hutchings said he made several phone calls to Checketts' people Monday trying to set up a meeting today. A team spokesman said Real had received no formal offer from Anderson Geneva.
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson wants to keep Real Salt Lake in Salt Lake City.
He resurrected a plan Monday to build the team a stadium at the Utah State Fairpark and called for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to persuade legislators to lease the Fairpark land to Real for decades while allowing adjacent development.
"This is going to be a black eye for our community for a long time if we aren't able to bail it out," Anderson told KSL-Newsradio. Anderson did not return phone calls to the Deseret Morning News Monday.
House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, doesn't support the idea. He told the Deseret Morning News on Monday, "I've said all along it's not a state-funded responsibility."
And a spokesman for the governor said, "Gov. Huntsman has long championed professional soccer in Utah and is disappointed with this new development."
Checketts refused to comment on the team's future in the Salt Lake Valley. He said all he could guarantee is a great final season for the fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium: "I'm going to give them the best season I possibly can."
When pressed for details on possible buyers or cities interested in purchasing the team, Checketts said, "If I'm going to turn this ship, I'm going to need to think about it."
Checketts met with MLS Commissioner Don Garber Monday to talk about the team's options. Real's lease at Rice-Eccles Stadium expires at the end of the 2007 season.
When another stadium deal fell apart last summer, Garbe said, investors in Rochester, N.Y., and St. Louis contacted the league about purchasing the franchise.
Teams unable to build their own stadiums have short life spans in the MLS. In the past five years, one MLS team folded and another relocated, partly because the teams could not secure a soccer-specific stadium. The Tampa Bay Mutiny folded in 2002 and the San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston in 2005.
"Real Salt Lake cannot be successful long term without a new stadium," Garber said in a statement. "In that regard, Real Salt Lake is no different than any other professional sports team in America."
Ultimately, what doomed the team were shaky finances, according to Corroon.
He said he worried that even a slight dip in ticket revenue could cause the team to default on bills.
Corroon also based his decision on a recommendation from the county's Debt Review Committee. It said the team is not financially viable. The committee found that Real wouldn't have enough money to pay its $3.3 million in yearly debt obligations on the stadium in four out of the next seven years.
He also said that the county couldn't find any sort of realistic scenario that showed the team breaking into the black.
"When the risk is such that it's gambling, we just didn't want to take the gamble," Corroon said. "This is an unsafe investment for the county."
Checketts maintains that investing in Real's future would be no gamble at all.
"I obviously disagree with the mayor on this being an unsafe investment," Checketts said. "They would have owned the underlying real estate and some of the most valuable land and facilities in the state."
Under the proposal killed by Corroon Monday, the county would have pitched in $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to pay for land and infrastructure around the stadium. Sandy pledged another $15 million.
In exchange, Real would give the county $27.5 million back in cash and in-kind contributions. That money would come from parking and ticket revenue, youth soccer and a gift of $7.5 million to Salt Lake City from Real to build a soccer complex in the city.
The much-discussed subsidizes by Sandy city and Salt Lake County should "absolutely not have been given. Taxpayer money shouldn't be spent on such things," said Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, a business-backed group that opposed taxpayer subsidizes for the stadium.
"We have business start ups here all the time. Rarely, if ever, do these firms expect to get money from taxpayers."
There are a few instances when local businesses should receive government help — usually in the form of tax breaks rather than cash outlays — and those economic incentives should be sharply targeted to increase productivity and the expansion of many new, high-paying jobs, Jerman said.
Real never met those standards, Jerman said.
Now that the deal is off, Corroon recommended that the county provide the $7.5 million for the purchase and construction of the youth soccer fields in Salt Lake City.
County Councilman Jim Bradley said he supports that decision, indicating the council will likely vote to allocate money for the fields.
Corroon said the county will still build a $20 million parking garage near the South Towne Exposition Center. Real wanted to share the parking garage with the county.
If Checketts hopes for legislative help, Curtis said he likely won't find any on Capitol Hill.
"I accept the outcome and will not try to revive the project with legislation," Curtis said.
However, in an interview earlier in the day with the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV, Curtis said a blank bill he filed, titled Transient Room Taxes, "could be drafted" to direct hotel-room taxes to the stadium.
"I don't know if there is the will of the Legislature to redirect the TRT tax," Curtis said. "If (Checketts is) done, it's done. I don't know a course of action. I don't know what options there are."
Curtis said he intends to use the bill to direct the county on how to spend the hotel-room tax money, as well as urge county leaders to finally start construction on a parking garage at the expo center.
He says money left over from parking-garage construction could fund an expansion at the Hogle Zoo or a TRAX line to the Salt Lake City International Airport. Curtis said he wants to offset the hit UTA will take if the Legislature removes transit and other so-called "boutique" taxes from food purchases.
He said UTA can make up the lost cash if the Legislature diverts hotel-room taxes from the county to UTA for a TRAX line to the Salt Lake City International Airport.
However, the House has already passed a bill, HB282, but it contains no provisions for compensating local governments for the loss of most taxes — including the $17 million the Utah Transit Authority stands to lose.
House and Senate leadership met briefly Monday morning with the county mayor.
Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, said he would be willing to support legislation that would allow Real to play at Rice-Eccles Stadium. For that to happen, the law would have to be changed to allow alcohol sales, and some bonding issues would have to be addressed.
Checketts did make a last-ditch effort to get Corroon to agree to the deal.
He says Corroon told him the only reason he said no to the deal was that there was about a $7 million gap in funding Sandy could not come up with. Then, Checketts said, he offered to come up with another $7 million in equity.
"His response was, 'I have already made my decision and it's too late, I can't discuss it,"' Checketts said. "He said it's my call and I say no. What that told me, frankly, was that he never intended on getting this done."
Corroon said the $7 million gap was a problem, but "it was beyond that."
He said there was only $20 million worth of land and infrastructure to invest in, yet the team wanted $30 million. Corroon insisted that county money not be spent on the stadium — only land and infrastructure.
"If I wanted to kill this project, I would have tried to do it earlier on," Corroon said. "All I tried to do was get it through a process that made sense."

[delts145]

Top officials, politicians express regret, but that may not revive the deal
By Derek P. Jensen, Heather May
and Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/30/2007 05:09:02 AM MST



http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/2007/0130/20070130__ut_soccermainplug_0130_a1~1_Gallery.jpg
Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts watches his team playing against Real Madrid at Rice-Eccles Stadium in August, when the Sandy stadium deal appeared within reach. (Al Hartmann/Tribune file photo)

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/2007/0130/20070130__ut_soccermainplug_0130_a1~3_Gallery.jpg
Salt Lake Real take their first bow as winners before a crowd of over 25,000 at Rice Eccles Stadium. They won 1-0 over the Colorado Rapids.

RSL Stadium
Jan 30:
Soccer: Winners and LosersRSL FutureGORDON MONSON: This soccer game needs a timeoutIf team is sold, those who will lose the most could be people of SLCLYA WODRASKA: RSL stadium plan simply far too taxingRSL: Players, coach and commissioner reactionJan 29:
Mayor Corroon's statementStadium deal is dead; Checketts may sell RSLJan 11:
Soccer plan: New concernsJan 10:
Soccer stadium site may be pollutedSoccer stadium: RSL boss says deal is 90% completeJan 9:
Checketts: Stadium deal far from deadJan 8:
House Speaker Greg Curtis: soccer stadium deal "dead"With goal machine Jeff Cunningham prowling the net, teen phenom Freddy Adu picking off passes and playoff-hungry fans bracing for a title run, Real Salt Lake's third season promises to be its most thrilling.
But after 2007, there are no promises. The team may not be here.
RSL owner Dave Checketts said Monday he may sell the franchise after Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon earlier in the day ruled out funneling $30 million in hotel taxes toward a $110 million Sandy stadium.
"It's a bitter pill, but I am not bitter," said Checketts, who nonetheless accused Corroon of engineering a stadium defeat for political advantage. "He thought that by steamrolling this along and then standing in its way that would get him the approval ratings he's seeking."
Corroon called the jab "nonsense," emphasizing he simply was looking out for the public purse.
"We were gambling with taxpayer dollars," he said. "Ultimately, the deal didn't make sense."
The endgame for RSL's suburban stadium played something like a soccer match: a long, strategic battle filled with attacks and counterattacks that ended in sudden death. And the result for Utah soccer fans and Checketts' two-year-old franchise appears devastating.
"We're done," Corroon announced Monday just before high noon, having spent the morning shuttling between private meetings on Capitol Hill with House Speaker Greg Curtis and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to deliver the news. Corroon called the public funding for stadium infrastructure an "unsafe investment."
On Friday, the county's Debt Review Committee had ruled 4-0 that RSL is not financially viable, clearly guiding Corroon's decision.
Checketts said Corroon killed the deal because RSL was $7 million shy in equity, which he offered to cover. Corroon says the gap was closer to $15 million.
Either way, any funding alternative from the Legislature appears doomed after Curtis released a statement Monday.
"I accept the outcome and will not try to revive the project with legislation," Curtis wrote.
Instead, the speaker - a powerful Sandy Republican who pushed for the stadium before declaring it "dead" earlier this month - is urging county leaders to move forward with a parking garage at the South Towne Expo Center with $20 million lawmakers allocated in hotel taxes in 2005.
The rest of the revenue, Curtis advised, should be redirected to the Utah Transit Authority to help offset losses that may occur if legislators dump the sales tax on food.
Still, a stadium alternative in Utah could be breathing - if faintly.
Sandy-based Anderson Development reaffirmed Friday it would be willing to buy RSL and move the team to its 1,700-acre site - formerly home to Geneva Steel - near Utah Lake. The company contacted team officials Monday to say its earlier offer still stands.
"We certainly see the value in this team." said Michael Hutchings, an Anderson partner.
Checketts said he will consider all options, including the Utah Fairpark, pushed anew by Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. But the RSL owner made it clear the team's future in the state is in doubt.
Sandy City Councilman Dennis Tenney said he is clutching to hope for an eleventh-hour solution. "We're not ready to throw the towel in yet," he said.
But Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan insisted any stadium salvation is "up to Dave Checketts."
"I'm sorry there is no vision in Salt Lake County," Dolan said. "It sends a message that we're not willing to bring major-league sports here."
Frustration, though muted, also came from Huntsman. The governor has "long championed professional soccer in Utah," spokesman Mike Mower said, "and he is disappointed with this new development."
When asked, Mower wouldn't say what, if anything, Huntsman is doing to revive the stadium.
If a plan is resurrected, Corroon said the county would share parking for the stadium. He also supports the county giving $7.5 million for youth fields in northwest Salt Lake City, part of the original deal.
Anderson, who lobbied for the fairpark to Checketts on Monday, said the news is particularly bad for Salt Lake City, which could lose the fields and a $25 million elite soccer academy.
"We blew it," said Anderson, calling the state and the county "dysfunctional." "It's something we'll look back on for many years just shaking our heads wondering how in the world did we let that opportunity slip through our fingers?"
Glenn Webb, president of the RSL fan club The Loyalists, agreed.
"We are wannabes now. We're just poseurs," he said. "There's no reason for the National Hockey League or Major League Baseball or anybody of consequence to consider Salt Lake."
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has stressed a soccer-specific stadium is key to RSL's success. It also is part of Checketts' agreement with the league.
Jim McNeil, president of United Concerts, was on tap to promote concerts at a Sandy stadium. Now he will return to pitching his shows at Usana Amphitheater.
"It's business as usual for us," he said. "I wish Dave Checketts and Real the very best."
Checketts declined to discuss the prospect of building a stadium in another market except, he joked, "the salt flats."
"It will enhance the speed of the game," he quipped. "And that land is probably not under the jurisdiction of any government."
On a somber side, the former Utah Jazz executive lamented that he was "embarrassed" he could not deliver a stadium deal for his home state.
"It must not be meant to be."

[delts145]

Tuesday, January 30, 2007



GRACE LEONG - Daily Herald
Attention: Dave Checketts. Anderson Development still wants to buy Real Salt Lake and have a professional soccer stadium in Vineyard.

"So, please call us," said Michael Hutchings, a partner with Sandy-based Anderson, the developer of the former Geneva Steel property on Monday.

Hutchings renewed an offer he made last summer to buy the soccer team from owner Dave Checketts after his plans to build a professional soccer stadium in Salt Lake County were scuppered by its mayor.

He also renewed an offer to donate up to 30 acres of the 1,700-acre former steel plant property in Vineyard for a 20,000-seat stadium. The offer came, again, after Peter Corroon, mayor of Salt Lake County, said on Monday he won't support a proposal that would put $30 million in hotel taxes toward buying land and building infrastructure for the stadium, calling it an "unsafe investment."

"Maybe it's not meant to be, because at every turn, we get thwarted by political leaders," said Checketts during a media conference call on Monday.

But the Real Salt Lake owner said he would consider Anderson's offer "along with everything else."

"We hadn't seriously considered Anderson's offer in August because I was considering Mayor Corroon's offer. But you've gotta give me at least 24 hours," Checketts said.

Checketts said he plans to sell Real but will keep the team in Utah for the 2007 Major League Soccer season. He declined to comment on whether he has a buyer lined up for the team.

Corroon's announcement came three days after the county's Debt Review Committee recommended against spending $30 million in hotel taxes on the $110 million project, the Associated Press reported.

According to the AP report, the committee said Real Salt Lake's revenue projections from soccer and concerts were too optimistic.

Checketts disagreed.

"I negotiated in good faith, and many members of the council were supportive and encouraging. So it came as a surprise when they rejected the plan," he said. "When I offered to cure what Corroon said were financial deficiencies, ... even personally guarantee the performance to get the stadium done, he refused to entertain it, which told me he never intended to do the deal."

"I've spent millions of dollars designing this world-class stadium for the citizens of Salt Lake County," he said. "My partners don't understand how we can be this close and have it fall through."

But Salt Lake County's loss could be Utah County's gain, Hutchings said.

"We don't want the team to leave Utah and our site is a perfect location for the stadium. It will be a catalyst for tremendous development. The site for the stadium is now completely remediated, so there'll be no environmental impediment to building the stadium on 800 North west of Geneva Road," he said.

To date, Anderson spent more than $2 million remediating the property -- a project that's expected to be completed in five years -- for a massive mixed use residential, commercial and retail development on the former Geneva Steel plant in Vineyard.

"We've also completed the demolition of all the existing buildings on the site," Hutchings said. We're giving them free land, and we're willing to let Checketts partner with us in the development of the commercial center, offices, retail and housing on that property. We may not be the size of Salt Lake County, but our venue will draw people from Salt Lake."

Utah County Commissioner Larry Ellertson said the stadium, if it became a reality, could generate substantial property taxes and sales taxes for the county.

But it depends on Anderson's level of commitment and whether Checketts believes there's enough support to keep the team in Utah, he said.

"Salt Lake Valley is the place where the Real Salt Lake Stadium would be best supported. But Utah County isn't all that far from Sandy. It's an additional 25 miles or so, but it is 25 additional miles," Ellertson said.

But that could be a moot point, Hutchings argued, now that voters in Utah County and Salt Lake County have approved a quarter-cent tax to fund transportation projects. That tax will be collected started April 1.

Hutchings said Checketts may have better luck getting private sector support for the stadium.

"We told Checketts he will have an uphill battle convincing Salt Lake County officials about the legitimacy of funding the soccer stadium with public money. But he told us he'd been assured privately by Salt Lake County officials who've now rejected it," he said. "We told him, 'Don't be too proud to call us if your plan is turned down by Salt Lake County.' "

But ultimately, the decision lies with Checketts.

"Ultimately, Checketts has the right to do what he wants. If he chooses to sell the team outside Utah, then we can conclude he isn't willing to continue the effort to see it succeed in Utah," Ellertson said.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.

[delts145]

Reality check
If team is sold, those who will lose the most could be people of SLC
If team is sold, residents of S.L. Valley could end up being biggest losers
By Michael C. Lewis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/30/2007 03:21:44 AM MST

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/2007/0130/20070130__ut_soccersideplug_0130_a1~1_Gallery.jpg
A young fan getting emotional during the game. Real Salt... (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune)«1»Related
RSL Stadium
Jan 30:
Coach John Ellinger believes there is a "good likelihood" that a sale and move are imminent - which MLS' all-time leading scorer Jason Kreis said probably would force him into "instant retirement."
But what about the city?
Would metropolitan Salt Lake City - home of the Utah Jazz and the 2002 Winter Olympics - suddenly develop a bad reputation that might scare away potential sports franchises, investors and events, if it cannot manage to keep one of the only two major-league franchises in town?
"To be honest, I would hope so," Kreis said. "I would hope that people around the country and in the big cities where they care about sports would look at Salt Lake City and say, 'Wow, they failed miserably.' "
The real effect, however, might not be quite so devastating - especially considering that for whatever local success they have enjoyed, neither RSL nor Major League Soccer takes up much room in the nation's sporting consciousness.
"Is this a setback?" said Tripp Mickle, who covers soccer for the Sports Business Journal. "Yeah. You don't want to lose a franchise once you've got one. But at the same time, it is Major League Soccer. We're not talking about the NFL here or the NBA, or a NASCAR race, for that matter. You have to keep it in perspective."
Even Checketts doubts the loss of the team - should it occur - would somehow scar the city for life.
"I'm not going to say this prevents the Salt Lake Valley from ever getting another franchise," he said, "because I don't believe that. But I do think it gives people somewhat of a pause."
Worse than injuring its reputation, Mickle said the city and its surrounding suburbs should worry more about what opportunities could be lost for children in the community who would have benefited from the playing fields that were scheduled to be built as part of the stadium project.
"That's where you're going to lose more than at the professional sports level," he said.
Kreis agreed, saying the "biggest losers would be the people of Salt Lake City" and the RSL fans who have seen the fledgling team through "very little thick and lots of thin. It would be difficult to see them losing what I think they love."
He also said that if the team leaves after next season, he probably would not follow.
"I don't know if I'm ready to move my family again, at this stage of my career," the 34-year-old striker said. "I don't think I'd be prepared to do it. It would be a bittersweet end for what has been a fantastic career."
Though it remains a decidedly modest league, MLS does seem to be starting to flourish in a way it never had since its creation in 1996.
The league recently signed international stars David Beckham and Claudio Reyna - RSL acquired teen sensation Freddy Adu - added expansion team Toronto FC and its own stadium, and has been forging encouraging relationships with strong ownership groups and popular international clubs.
All of which might one day make a city look foolish for not having stuck with it.
"Major League Soccer is on a big upswing right now, and it's considered by a lot of people to be doing some good things," Mickle said. "It could be the type of thing that people look back on and say, 'Goodness, that was a window when MLS was moving in the right direction and we were there and had a chance to be a part of that.' At the same time, who knows what the future holds for that league right now?"
mcl@sltrib.com

[wrendog]

something better pan out.. if checketts sells the team to an out of state suitor, can we safely assume that checketts only goal was the realty portion of this? Cause it sounds as if geneva steel guys are serious about this.. and why wouldn't he sell it to them?

[delts145]

I agree with you 200% Wrendog about this stadium deal panning out. Also, much better to have the stadium at the old Geneva site than no Wasatch Front site at all.

[SmilingBob]

:previous:
Maybe I out of line here.
But Comrade hated RSL since day one just because it wasn't going to be built downtown. That is the only reason. And since then he just wanted not only the Sandy deal to fail, but all of RSL being in utah to fail altogether.
People like him bug me. Why? It's just the way they think, "If it's not going to be built downtown, then we don't want it AT ALL" what crap. Be better to have it in Sandy or even Utah county then freaking New York. :hell:

Why is it okay to spend tax dollars on the arts, the zoo, and other recreation projects, but not on RSL? Soccer fans live here too. The city, state, and county spent millions on facility, road, and transportation upgrades for the Olympics, but $30 million for RSL isn't important enough. IMO, RSL just doesn't have the clout to get this deal done.

I find it funny that the county money was to be spent on infrastructure, not the actual stadium, and now they are still going to build a parking garage for the Expo Center at a cost of $7.5 million and they still want to put in the rec. soccer fields. In the end the county will probably spend the $30 million on various project upgrades having to do with this site or similar projects in the area with little to no regard about what the returns or pay backs will be.

Just like Comrade this is all about hurt feelings, not what's best for SL county and the state. RSL pissed off SL city and went to Sandy. In the end the right asses weren't kissed and therefore this project failed.

[delts145]

:tup: :tup:

Thankyou SmilingBob, Let's hope that cool heads prevail.

[i-215]

TEAM MAY MOVE TO LINDON

KSL 1160 is reporting ....... http://real.ksl.com/video/slc/1/167/16737.mp3

[wrendog]

TEAM MAY MOVE TO LINDON

KSL 1160 is reporting ....... http://real.ksl.com/video/slc/1/167/16737.mp3

I can't listen to that at work.. what does it say? how likely is it? thanks..

[Urbano]

Firstly, I don't hate RSL because they chose Sandy over Salt Lake. I hate RSL for the way things went about. I feel they completely screwed Salt Lake City over for personal reasons and I have a problem with that. Secondly, yeah I do think the stadium would be better downtown and not out in the suburbs. Sandy cheated its way to the stadium, cozying up with the Utah legislature, who then turned around and made it impossible for SLC to build the stadium. Call me crazy, but I can't help but smile at it all blowing up in their faces.

Amen! It is amazing how this thing has been turned around to try and make Peter Carroon and Salt Lake County the bad guys. Dave Checkets, Greg Curtis, Tom Dolan, and many others are still playing the political game that they have been playing all along. SL County residents didn't want to pay for the stadium, and the fact that the speaker of the house Greg Curtis was just about beat by a democrat in conservative Sandy is proof that people didn't like how this whole ordeal had been handled.

We now see how loyal Dave Checkets and Real Salt Lake really are to Utah and Salt Lake and not how loyal they said they were when they thought they could get some money. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of this though…

[wrendog]

SL County residents didn't want to pay for the stadium…

I just want to know how you know this..

[Urbano]

I just want to know how you know this..

There are obviously some on this site that would be ok with public money going to the stadium, but you are in the minority. Here is an old article, I have newer stuff but don't have time to find it and post is right now. If you want current reaction to the stadium check out KSL's first story they posted yesterday on this subject. I would say the majority of people that posted something were relieved that SL County won't be funding the stadium. Anyway, here is the article, it includes more than SL County but I'll post more later if you are interested...

Utahns are against paying for stadium, but want it in SLC


By Heather May
©2005, The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune

The public is strongly opposed to using taxpayer money to help build a Major League Soccer stadium for Real Salt Lake. But if one is built, nearly a majority want it in Salt Lake City, according to a poll conducted for The Salt Lake Tribune.
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson found a popular spot when he suggested placing the stadium at the Utah State fairgrounds - 31.5 percent of people polled in Davis, Salt Lake, Summit and Utah counties favor that site. And another 17 percent suggest it go downtown.
Sandy, a newcomer to the stadium sweepstakes, was picked by 17.8 percent. And Murray - which once led the chase, according to an RSL poll conducted last December - dropped to last place. But its 13.8 percent showing - within the poll's margin of error - puts it in a statistical tie with Sandy.
A large chunk of respondents - 20 percent - said they didn't know where to put the 25,000-seat venue.
Neither does RSL.
Team CEO Dean Howes is evaluating the Fairpark, 155 N. and 1000 West, and the Sandy site, near the South Towne Expo Center, to see if they're suitable and what economic-development impact they could have on their surroundings. He said he already has studied Murray's potential. And placing a stadium in downtown Salt Lake City is a long shot because of the high cost of land. Still, RSL prefers downtown and continues to look for land there.
"We need to put it in the right place for both our fan base and for the success of the team," Howes said.
No matter what site it chooses, RSL expects the public to pay for the land and half the stadium's construction costs. It will pay the other half - about $30 million.
Valley Research polled 400 people June 8-10. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percent.
The pollsters found that 68.3 percent oppose using taxpayer money to help build the stadium, while almost 24 percent said there should be a subsidy. The residents most likely to have to help pay for a stadium - those in Salt Lake County - are most adamantly opposed to a subsidy.
"There should be enough money made [at the stadium] to pay for it," said Kearns resident Dorothy Behunin, who participated in the poll and was interviewed Saturday.
Keith Hayes, from West Jordan, is in the minority. He supports a subsidy. "It's gonna bring in a lot of business to the area of town they're going to bring it in. If you're going to have a community that's going to continue to grow and become a major market, you've got to have those types of things."
The politicians who want to land the stadium - Anderson, Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan and Murray Mayor Dan Snarr - also support using taxpayer funds, as does Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
"If we want Major League Soccer, we need to be prepared to provide some public support for the stadium just as we did with the Delta Center and Franklin Covey [Field]," said Anderson.
Most sports teams across the country seek and receive public subsidies.
In Salt Lake City, Fairpark land would be free because it's already owned by the state, but sales taxes could jump to help build the stadium. Sandy wants Salt Lake County to buy land. The suburban city would divert to the stadium some sales taxes now going to the state.
And Murray envisions paying to clean up contaminated property and convincing the landowner to sell it cheap to the team. There isn't yet a plan to cover construction costs.
"If it meant raising their taxes to pay for a stadium, anyone would object to that," said Dolan. "The question is how you are able to do it without raising taxes."
Howes complained pollsters didn't point out the potential economic benefits of a stadium and that the team would pay half the construction costs.
And he noted the use of public subsidies is a common business practice, pointing out the company that prints and distributes the Tribune and Deseret Morning News - the Newspaper Agency Corp. - is taking taxpayer money to move its plant from downtown to West Valley City. That city's Redevelopment Agency is donating 37 acres worth about $3.5 million, another $6 million in tax incentives, and will waive development fees, according to past Tribune reports.
"We need to have a public-private joint venture. We need it for the model to work," Howes said. "People need to understand the benefits to the community."
The Sandy site leads among people living in Summit and Utah counties. "I would prefer Sandy just because it's closer," said Jay Basinger, from Provo.
In Salt Lake County, residents polled favor the Fairpark while Murray came in a strong second. Murray's proposal, at 4500 South near the TRAX station, has stalled of late, but Mayor Snarr said he's working on reviving it.
"I'm not going to quit selling until the door's shut." And he's trying to get back in the game by emphasizing its location.
That sold Riverton resident Lana Averett. "It's in the middle of the valley. That seemed to make more sense [than] either having it south or north."
Davis County dwellers who have a preference picked the site closest to them: the Fairpark. Spencer Tibbets, Clearfield, singled out the fairgrounds. "It's near downtown. That's where I go when I go to Salt Lake."
hmay@sltrib.com

[SmilingBob]

Amen! It is amazing how this thing has been turned around to try and make Peter Carroon and Salt Lake County the bad guys. Dave Checkets, Greg Curtis, Tom Dolan, and many others are still playing the political game that they have been playing all along. SL County residents didn't want to pay for the stadium, and the fact that the speaker of the house Greg Curtis was just about beat by a democrat in conservative Sandy is proof that people didn't like how this whole ordeal had been handled.

We now see how loyal Dave Checkets and Real Salt Lake really are to Utah and Salt Lake and not how loyal they said they were when they thought they could get some money. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of this though…

If this isn't political then why didn't "Carroon, the buffoon" at least discuss other options when Checkets offered to fund the $7 million difference?

This was completely a political decision and it looks like the legislature will treat this prid quo pro.

RSL Owner Offered to Cover $7M Funding Gap

(KCPW News) According to Real Salt Lake team owner Dave Checketts, a funding gap of $7 million was all that prevented Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon from agreeing to use $30 million in hotel tax dollars for a major league soccer stadium in Sandy. Checketts said that he offered to cover the gap personally in a conversation with the mayor yesterday morning, but he was rebuffed:
"And his response was, ‘I have already made my decision, it's too late, I can't discuss it.' And I said, ‘if you can't discuss it, who can discuss it.' Then he said, ‘it's my call and I say no.'"
During a telephone press conference with media late yesterday, Checketts said he plans to step back and review all of his options, which may include selling the team. Checketts blamed the failure of what he thought was a done deal on Corroon's political ambitions:

"It's clear that he thought by steamrolling this along and then standing in its way that that would get him the political approval ratings that he is seeking."
Through a spokesman, Mayor Corroon declined to comment last night.

Listen the it at: http://www.kcpw.org/article/2803

[Urbano]

Here's a more recent poll.

Corroon says Real funding must be people's will
Deseret News (Salt Lake City),
Jun 20, 2006
by Leigh Dethman Deseret Morning News
Not so fast, Sandy.
Although city leaders there say they have found a way to give Real Salt Lake public money for a stadium while keeping county leaders happy, Mayor Peter Corroon says he isn't taking the bait.
"One of our greatest pieces of information has been hearing from the public, the overwhelming majority of whom have expressed opposition to any public funding towards the stadium," Corroon wrote in a letter to Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. "My focus remains, as it always has, with serving the public and only considering actions that will benefit all citizens."
The mayors are at odds over how much public funding the county is willing to put in, according to letters swapped between the two last week.
Corroon said he will listen to any funding plan but will only approve it if that is the people's will. And if recent polls are any indication, Salt Lake County residents are against public funding for a soccer stadium.
A May Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll of 450 county residents found 59 percent oppose giving Real $35 million in hotel tax funds to build a new stadium. Dan Jones & Associates quizzed Salt Lake County residents the week Corroon decided to deny the team's initial funding plan.

[Urbano]

If this isn't political then why didn't "Carroon, the buffoon" at least discuss other options when Checkets offered to fund the $7 million difference?

This was completely a political decision and it looks like the legislature will treat this prid quo pro.

RSL Owner Offered to Cover $7M Funding Gap

(KCPW News) According to Real Salt Lake team owner Dave Checketts, a funding gap of $7 million was all that prevented Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon from agreeing to use $30 million in hotel tax dollars for a major league soccer stadium in Sandy. Checketts said that he offered to cover the gap personally in a conversation with the mayor yesterday morning, but he was rebuffed:
"And his response was, ‘I have already made my decision, it's too late, I can't discuss it.' And I said, ‘if you can't discuss it, who can discuss it.' Then he said, ‘it's my call and I say no.'"
During a telephone press conference with media late yesterday, Checketts said he plans to step back and review all of his options, which may include selling the team. Checketts blamed the failure of what he thought was a done deal on Corroon's political ambitions:

"It's clear that he thought by steamrolling this along and then standing in its way that that would get him the political approval ratings that he is seeking."
Through a spokesman, Mayor Corroon declined to comment last night.

Listen the it at: http://www.kcpw.org/article/2803

And Checketts isn't being purely political when he says things like that? I'm not saying Carroon has no political motivations, but I am saying some have played the game more than others. The reason it has turned into a Sandy stadium is because two of the most powerfull politicians in Utah live in Sandy. It wasn't that Sandy was the best fit in general, but that Sandy was the best fit politically.

[wrendog]

Here's a more recent poll.

Corroon says Real funding must be people's will
Deseret News (Salt Lake City),
Jun 20, 2006
by Leigh Dethman Deseret Morning News
Not so fast, Sandy.
Although city leaders there say they have found a way to give Real Salt Lake public money for a stadium while keeping county leaders happy, Mayor Peter Corroon says he isn't taking the bait.
"One of our greatest pieces of information has been hearing from the public, the overwhelming majority of whom have expressed opposition to any public funding towards the stadium," Corroon wrote in a letter to Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. "My focus remains, as it always has, with serving the public and only considering actions that will benefit all citizens."
The mayors are at odds over how much public funding the county is willing to put in, according to letters swapped between the two last week.
Corroon said he will listen to any funding plan but will only approve it if that is the people's will. And if recent polls are any indication, Salt Lake County residents are against public funding for a soccer stadium.
A May Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV poll of 450 county residents found 59 percent oppose giving Real $35 million in hotel tax funds to build a new stadium. Dan Jones & Associates quizzed Salt Lake County residents the week Corroon decided to deny the team's initial funding plan.


thanks.. I wasn't sure if there were any informal polls done..

[Urbano]

Fairpark RSL stadium picking up momentum?
By Heather May
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/30/2007 01:39:14 PM MST

Posted: 1:39 PM- The Salt Lake City Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday to discuss building a Major League Soccer stadium at the Utah State Fairpark.
City Councilwoman Jill Remington Love reported Tuesday that council members have been circulating a letter to send to Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts that would say the council wants to work with him to find a solution at the fairpark, 10 blocks west of downtown.
"In principle, probably most of the council would be supportive of somehow coming to Real Salt Lake to see if there's a solution in Salt Lake City at the fairpark," she said.
Word of the meeting, set Wednesday for 12:15 p.m. at City Hall, comes a day after Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon rejected spending $30 million in hotel taxes on a stadium in Sandy.
Checketts has said he may sell the team and added that he doesn't have the energy to pursue a Sandy stadium anymore.
Accusing the county of being "dysfunctional," Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has been lobbying Checketts and state leaders on the fairpark.
Checketts rejected that location and others in 2005 in favor of Sandy. But Anderson described the team owner as showing renewed interest. "He would be very willing to consider that if we could get the support from the governor and others at the state level to help make it possible," Anderson said Monday.
The state owns the fairpark and would have to agree to leasing it to the team.
It is unclear how funding for a fairpark stadium would work.
Anderson said Checketts would have to give up his dream of a massive mixed-use development surrounding a fairpark stadium, as was planned in Sandy.

[wrendog]

well, here is another opportunity to see if this deal was about soccer in SLC or a real estate development baby for checketts.. if he denies the fairgrounds again, we have our answer..

[Makid]

I really hope that it is about soccer. He could always put a Hotel across the street from the fair park on the empty field or better yet, downtown. He might even get some help from the Cities RDA fund.

Come on Rocky, Gov Huntsman, John Valentine and Greg Curtis...let's get this baby to sleep so that we can all wake up with the sound of construction work on a SLC stadium.

[SLC Projects]

I really hope that it is about soccer. He could always put a Hotel across the street from the fair park on the empty field or better yet, downtown. He might even get some help from the Cities RDA fund.

Come on Rocky, Gov Huntsman, John Valentine and Greg Curtis...let's get this baby to sleep so that we can all wake up with the sound of construction work on a SLC stadium.


Well said. Let's get it built and keep the team here in utah.

[SmilingBob]

And Checketts isn't being purely political when he says things like that? I'm not saying Carroon has no political motivations, but I am saying some have played the game more than others. The reason it has turned into a Sandy stadium is because two of the most powerfull politicians in Utah live in Sandy. It wasn't that Sandy was the best fit in general, but that Sandy was the best fit politically.


Of course Checketts was being political. It's how it's done. You go the city/county/state and see if together you guys can get a deal done. That's politics. Getting political means you are playing the game and when someone ticks you off you take your toys and go home.

This wasn't about whether the deal could be done in Sandy. It was about negotiating and trying to make the deal work. Carroon-the buffoon decided not to keep working on a deal and to blame it on the fundamentals not making sense. Even if he didn't like the risk/reward ratio, he can keep working on a deal.

[SmilingBob]

well, here is another opportunity to see if this deal was about soccer in SLC or a real estate development baby for checketts.. if he denies the fairgrounds again, we have our answer..

This I agree with. Checketts needs to put up at this point. He's milked every level of the government. Sit down and work things out with SLC or move on and let Andersen-Geneva take it over.

[delts145]

:previous:

Amen Brother

I still feel Govenor Huntsman is the man to pull this thing through. The Fairgrounds would be great with me and will be a big plus for that area.

[jedikermit]

Anyone know anything about the Fairgrounds site? Would it be ON the Fairgrounds, or in the current parking lot, or across North Temple from the Fairgrounds?

I still have my doubts about the draw of soccer to this area. But I'd support a Fairgrounds-area stadium a hell of a lot faster than Sandy.

[delts145]

Investors make new pitch to keep Real Salt Lake in Utah
Last Update: 1/30/2007 7:39:27 PM

VINEYARD, Utah - A retired Utah judge likes soccer so much he is willing to give Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts 10-million-dollars worth of land if he will build his new soccer stadium on top of the old Geneva Steel plant in Utah County. "Salt Lake County's losses are perhaps our gain," said Michael Hutchings, a partner with Anderson Development in Sandy.

Hutchings and his investment partners like professional soccer and want a high visibility anchor that will attract attention to the multi-million dollar development they plans to build on top of this now vacant land once known as the Geneva steel plant. "We just like the idea of this soccer franchise being located on our property down at Geneva steel," Hutchings said.

Hutchings and his investment partners bought the Geneva property out of bankruptsy and have removed all the buildings and cleaned up most of the hazzarsous waste. If Salt Lake Real owner Dave Checketts will go along, Anderson Development will give him 30 acres of land, worth about 10-million dollars, to build a permanent home for soccer in Utah County. "The team right now is homeless and we're trying to provide a home for this team," Hutchings said.

Anderson development owns 17-hundred acres of land on the east shore of Utah Lake. A map given to ABC 4 News shows the soccer stadium on the north end of the property near the 800 North I-15 off ramp. The railroad lines already go through the Geneva property so Hutchings says that will make it easy for soccer fans to get to the new stadium. "It would be very easy for soccer moms in Bountiful and in Ogden to jump on the commuter rail with their children, take the team train and come right down."

Hutchings retired as a Third District Court Judge 9 years ago. He plans to meet with Checketts later this week and look at the property. If Checketts doesn't like the free land deal, Hutchings says he will make him another offer. "Our preference is that Dave would come down with the team to this site and we would joint venture partner with him. But if need be we're willing to step-up and buy the team," Hutchings said.

Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts declined to comment on the free land offer when contacted by ABC 4 News on Tuesday. But Hutchings said he hopes to start building the stadium within the next six months, either as a neighbor or as the owner of the Utah Real soccer team.

http://www.centralmediaserver.com/KTVX/13007_realproposal.jpg

[delts145]

But 30 free acres in Vineyard on sidelines

By Doug Smeath and Sara Israelsen
Deseret Morning News
With Salt Lake County funding for a Sandy soccer stadium off the table, Salt Lake City officials are hoping they can reawaken interest in Real Salt Lake making its home in the capital city.

http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/3754413.jpg
Mike Terry, Deseret Morning News, KSL-TV Chopper 5
The Salt Lake City Council will discuss today the Utah State Fairpark as an alternate site for the Real soccer stadium after the county snubbed Sandy plan.

But they may have competition in Utah County.
The City Council plans an emergency work-session meeting this afternoon to "discuss the option of soccer in the Fairpark area."
Real owner Dave Checketts previously has passed over the idea of building the stadium at the Utah State Fairpark, on North Temple and 1000 West, in favor of a Sandy stadium, but Mayor Rocky Anderson and the City Council have been persistent.
"We think soccer's a good thing for Utah," Council Chairman Van Turner said. "We think it's a better thing for Salt Lake City."
Meanwhile, Anderson Geneva Inc., in Vineyard, Utah County, has re-offered 30 acres of former steel-plant land for a giant stadium, with promises to build without asking for money from Utah County taxpayers.
"We realize that Real Salt Lake is homeless," said Michael Hutchings, co-owner of Anderson Development. "We would try to build them a really nice home on the Geneva property in Utah County."
Real Salt Lake officials declined to comment Tuesday.
The Salt Lake City Council is not considering any specific funding proposals — none has been officially put forth — but will instead brainstorm ideas today.
The fairgrounds are owned by the state, so the using the site for a soccer stadium would need legislative approval. Speaking to KSL-Newsradio on Monday, Anderson called on Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to push for lawmakers to lease the land to the team.
Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said Tuesday that the governor has spoken with Checketts, but Mower would not say what they discussed. Mower said Huntsman has also met with other political leaders, whom he did not name, and "options were discussed, but there are no final proposals."
Neither Anderson nor his spokesman could be reached for comment Tuesday.
In June 2006, Anderson promoted the Fairpark idea by suggesting a number of incentives, including a share of the city's property taxes, some of the city's portion of hotel taxes from Salt Lake County and a ready fan base within walking distance of the site.
Turner said a Fairpark stadium could be tied in with the fair, and the amenities already at the park would complement the stadium.
Since the Fairpark idea was last offered to the team, county leaders have named a light-rail line on North Temple as a top priority, boosting Turner's conviction that a stadium there "would make good business sense."
Salt Lake City business leaders also like the idea. Salt Lake Chamber spokeswoman Natalie Gochnour said Chamber president Lane Beattie is "actively working to try to keep this alive. There's a recognition here that a Major League Soccer franchise and the benefit it brings to our residents is something we ought not let slip away."
She said the Chamber would support a Utah County site if it proved to be more viable — whatever it takes to keep the team in the area.
The Salt Lake City Council's work session is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. today in Room 326 of the City-County Building, 451 S. State Street. The discussion is listed as a tentative agenda item, open to the public, with a closed executive session to follow.
In Vineyard, Hutchings still sees the Utah County site as the most viable option.
"This truly is one of those win-win scenarios," he said. "We're talking about giving the land to the team — for free. I don't see a downside here."
The gift would be 30 acres of cleaned-up Geneva land at 800 North near the railroad tracks.
Sitting just west of Orem and east of Utah Lake, Vineyard is often overlooked in the Utah County landscape. Once home to Geneva Steel and multi-generational family farms, the demise of the plant has brought with it the possibility for new growth — and now a potential stadium.
Hutchings and Anderson Development Inc. co-owner Gerald Anderson will be talking with Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts sometime next week to firm up the details, which might also include a change of ownership in the team.
No matter where the home, Real Salt Lake is going to need a place to play come early Spring 2008, as their lease with Rice-Eccles Stadium ends in October, after the 2007 season.
Hutchings said if talks with Checketts go as planned, and the necessary approval and zoning changes can be worked out with Vineyard, they would hope to break ground in six months and have the project finished by summer 2008.

[delts145]

While I would want REAL to move to the Genveva site vs. no Utah site at all, "I would definately prefer the Fairgrounds site." The Fairgrounds needs a big shot in the arm like this. We sure could sure use the increased seating for some great concert act's during the State Fair season. A lot of win-win possibilities here for the Wasatch. I hope Checketts will be willing to eat a little humble pie.