Real Salt Lake to Stay in Utah

Though the hole that David Beckham dug at the Sandy stadium site last August has since filled back up with dirt, lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City and from all government sectors put their heads together, deciding Real Salt Lake should stay in Utah.

It took some time for the lawmakers to get the legwork done, considering RSL was about one week from deciding that this would be their final season in Utah, according to the team's owner David W. Checketts.

After Salt Lake County mayor Peter Corroon decided that his constituents could not and would not foot the $30 million needed to provide crucial infrastructure such as a parking garage for patrons of the stadium and of the nearby exposition center, it seemed that all was doomed for the second-year franchise.

Then Utah governor Jon M. Huntsman stepped in, along with the State Senate. And they quickly got lawmakers to realize that not only would Real Salt Lake require the $30 million Corroon couldn't get from the county, but that an extra $5 million wouldn't hurt. That first vote passed by a 24-12 margin and it set the stage for what amounts to an interlocal agreement, which will also involve the county.

It will be called House Bill 38 and hotel-room tax revenue will be "collected for the next 20 years" to help pay for the stadium. In essence the $35 million will be spent in two places, $20 million for the parking garage and $15 million for land adjacent to the stadium.

In return RSL will contribute $7.5 million toward a youth sports complex in the northwest quadrant of Salt Lake City, establish an elite academy for aspiring soccer players and donate 500 tickets per home game to local charities, as well as give promotional materials to both state and local governments.

The next phase of the stadium project will see Sandy City draw up a community development area around the stadium as required by law. Then the city plans to use $10 million of its funds for the first phase of the stadium.

The city may then decide, it may choose to go to phase two and contribute $5 million more. If that happens, the second phase would include a hotel and broadcast studio.

Real Salt Lake is still looking for a permanent practice facility. In all the Sandy stadium is scheduled to cost $110 million, with Sandy City pleased that the battle for the stadium is over, but the war is just beginning, in terms of getting the stadium ready for its July 2008 completion date.