From Deseret News archives:
County, Real bad blood lingering?
In August, the team agreed to a bare-bones contract with the county for partial funding for the $180 million, 136-acre project, which includes a hotel and broadcast studio. At the time, team and county officials said a detailed contract would be signed by the fall, with construction starting on the stadium by November at the latest.
Now it's December, and a deal to fund the stadium is at a standstill. The team staged a ceremonial ground breaking in August after the county pledged $35 million in hotel taxes, but construction hasn't started yet.
Real and county leaders have fought publicly in the past, particularly after the County Council voted against one funding plan in July. After that vote, team owner Dave Checketts lambasted Mayor Peter Corroon, calling him the "King of England" and blasting overall county leadership as a "completely dysfunctional group."
"Apparently someone has been going around town making false (cowardly, wild irresponsible, unethical) accusations about me and attributing them to you, and I thought you would want to know because I believe that it really makes you look unprofessional," Willmore wrote.
When contacted for comment Thursday, Howes hadn't received the letter. He said he hasn't spoken to Willmore in months, and was surprised at the accusations.
"I don't know why anybody would say anything about that," Howes said. "I have never once done anything but publicly and privately say that we've made an agreement, and we hope the agreement gets done, and that's it."
Willmore said he's not trying to start a fight he's just trying to clear the air. "The last thing I want is for this to become some public name-calling match," he said Thursday.
Despite the disagreements, negotiations for a funding plan continue. However, several key issues are holding up the deal, including land-ownership issues and the team's financial viability.
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