From Deseret News archives:

Corroon tells Real Salt Lake no deal once again

Published: Wednesday, May 9, 2007 12:17 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Once again, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon is saying no to a stadium deal for Real Salt Lake.

Now he says he won't sign an interlocal agreement that would allow funding to go forward to help construct the stadium for Real Salt Lake — not without some changes. Corroon said the language of the document is too vague and leaves open the possibility that the county's hotel-room tax (TRT) dollars could be used for a hotel, broadcast studio or other Real projects on the stadium property.

"I won't sign it unless there is some confirmation that the TRT monies will only go for land, parking and infrastructure," Corroon said Tuesday afternoon.

The agreement is one of two that finalize details of a deal the Utah Legislature passed in February, securing $35 million for land and infrastructure for a soccer stadium for Real Salt Lake.

Nearly two hours before the meeting was set to begin, the Sandy City Council yanked the disputed agreement from the council's agenda Tuesday night. After Corroon called the state's negotiator for the stadium deal, Jason Perry, at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday to complain about the vague language, Sandy leaders agreed to rework some of the details of the agreement.

Story continues below
However, the city won't budge on everything Corroon asked for. Sandy Economic Development Director Randy Sant said he will not change the language about what the hotel-room revenue will be used for.

"It was just too restrictive," Sant said. "That doesn't mean that our intent has always been all along to use it for land and public utilities.

"I have no idea what I'm going to use it for. I'm going to use it in accordance to what the Utah State Legislature passed. The law tells me what I can and can't use it for."

The law is broad, saying hotel-tax revenue can be used to promote recreation, tourism, film productions and conventions as well as for sports and recreation facilities, like practice fields and stadiums.

Sant said the city might end up needing to spend some of the money on attorneys' fees for the land and construction deals. Under Corroon's demands, the city wouldn't be able to do that.

Even without Corroon's signature, the stadium project would not be derailed, Sant said. His cooperation would be nice, however, as the city would not have to pay additional bond insurance and not have as much bond coverage, Sant said.

However, "the devil is in the details," Corroon said, and he just doesn't agree with the details of the interlocal agreement.

To solve the problem, Perry said state and Sandy leaders will gut the interlocal agreement to the bare minimum, without any language on what the money can be spent on.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

It's BEER, not acid people! Some people love having it sprayed on themselves....

I believe Max Hall cemented his legacy tonight with his lack of...

I find it interesting that these comment come after a so-so performance in a...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

If you really think BYU is more arrogant than USC or UCLA or so many other...

Cougars honor 1984 champs

cougars baby!!!!!

Cougars beat Utes, 26-23

I have one word for the BYU AND UTAH fans: TCU!!!! hahahaha

Two great examples of lack of class surfaced tonight: Pete Carroll, USC's...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

Don't forget my favorite Max stat. 2 out of 3. Yeah, I bet that...

Thanks for the comment Max! I hope you keep on playing just like you have...

Linehan's success no accident

Neat article! (Yes, I'm a little biased :) It's been an exciting time to be...

Advertisements