S.L. may buy land for pro soccer park

Facing heightened competition from suburban cities like Murray, Salt Lake City could spend public funds to buy land where Utah's new Major League Soccer team would build a stadium, city attorneys said Monday.

In a letter to the Deseret Morning News, city attorneys said they wouldn't release specific locations identified for the soccer stadium because the city is seeking to acquire that property.

"After some investigation of this matter, I have been informed that virtually all of the sites in Salt Lake City are sites that are under consideration for public acquisition, either in whole or in part," assistant city attorney Lynn Pace wrote in response to a Government Records Access and Management Act request.

Previously, Salt Lake City Council members said team owners Sports-West asked about what public funds might be available to help the team build a soccer-specific stadium in Utah's capital. But Monday was the first-time city officials admitted they are actively looking to acquire property where a stadium could be built.

And that public support may be key to winning the soccer stadium battle. SportsWest CEO Dan Checketts said Monday the company is seriously considering financial incentives for development.

"We're just trying to figure out what is going to be the best scenario," Checketts said.

It makes sense that Salt Lake City would spend public dollars, probably Redevelopment Agency money, to buy property for the stadium and then let SportsWest or the private sector build the arena, Salt Lake City Council members say.

"It would be appropriate at some time to participate in the soccer stadium by helping out with the land purchase," Council Chair Jill Remington Love said.

The city has done similar deals in the past — like the one the Salt Lake City RDA gave to the yet-to-be-built Living Planet Aquarium, offering the aquarium free land owned by the RDA.

Two months ago city, planner Doug Dansie put together a map of about 12 sites where a soccer stadium could fit in Salt Lake City. That document has been passed to the Mayor's Office and the Redevelopment Agency. Both are working to facilitate a soccer-specific stadium for Checketts' new Major League Soccer team.