Build stadium in Salt Lake, poll says

A new poll shows a majority of Utahns favor building a stadium for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake in Salt Lake City proper but don't want tax dollars to pay for construction.

The poll, commissioned by The Salt Lake Tribune, showed 31.5 percent of respondents from Davis, Salt Lake, Summit and Utah counties think the Utah State fairgrounds is the best location for the stadium. Another 17 percent agreed a stadium should be located downtown, the newspaper said in a copyright story.

As for the other cities bidding to be the soccer team's home base: Sandy had the support of 17.8 percent of respondents, trailed by Murray with 13.8 percent support.

Some 20 percent of those questioned said they didn't know where the 25,000-seat venue should go.

The team is considering the suitability and economic-development impacts of both the Fairpark, near downtown, and a Sandy site near the South Towne Expo Center, team CEO Dean Howes said. The team has already looked at Murray's potential, he said.

Regardless of its location, RSL expects public funds to pay for the land and half of construction costs. The team will pay the balance of about $30 million.

Pollsters found that nearly 69 percent of respondents opposed building a stadium with taxpayer dollars. Those most opposed to public funding of the project were Salt Lake County residents. Twenty-four percent said there should be some public subsidy.

The poll of 400 people was conducted June 8-10 by Valley Research and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.