From Deseret News archives:
Soccer site options brewing
If Sandy deal fails, other offers may be in works
The Salt Lake County Council is scheduled to discuss a $30 million funding package for Real Salt Lake and could vote on it today. Sandy leaders crafted the proposal after Mayor Peter Corroon rejected the team's initial funding plan in May. The plan could end up costing $76 million over the life of a 30-year bond, including debt service.
Opportunists are already lining up just in case the county rejects Sandy's plan. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson wants to build the stadium at the Utah State Fairpark, while councilwoman Jenny Wilson wants the team to continue playing at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Even House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, has a contingency plan: If the County Council doesn't use hotel-tax money for a soccer stadium in Sandy, he wants the money to be used to fund light-rail expansion. On top of that, Anderson is tossing out the idea of using both hotel and Zoo, Arts and Parks taxes to fund a downtown cultural-arts district.
"It's kind of a game of chicken we'll see who wins," Salt Lake County councilman Joe Hatch said Monday.
The only caveat is that Hatch said he wants Sandy leaders to "stand up and say, 'I have no heartburn with this money going to downtown Salt Lake.' "
Several high-powered politicians back the Sandy plan, including Curtis and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. But that kind of political backing won't stop Salt Lake City's mayor, who urged the County Council in a letter Monday to examine all stadium plans on their merits not just their political backing.
Anderson wants the county to offer up $17.5 million in hotel-room taxes to build a stadium at the Utah State Fairpark on North Temple and 1000 West. That money, along with property taxes from a community-development agency, would go into improving facilities at the Fairpark. Key to Anderson's plan is that the team would pay the county back in 17.5 years, either in cash or through in-kind tourism-promotion services.
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...



You can be the first to comment on this story.