Sandy focuses on development

Sandy officials insist it's not about soccer.

Even Mayor Tom Dolan is quick to note that he is not a fan of the sport. When referring to soccer superstar David Beckham, he unintentionally proved his point by telling the Salt Lake County Council that he wasn't familiar with "David Becker," but knew who his wife was.

Instead, Dolan says, the stadium is about economic development.

City leaders presented their funding plan to county officials Tuesday, detailing how public dollars would cover infrastructure costs for the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium. Sandy officials also unveiled plans for a big development they say will be spurred by the soccer stadium.

"I think you need the whole picture to understand the benefits of a major-league sports team coming in town," Dolan said. "By building the infrastructure that's needed, it's a catalyst for the other acres."

The 42-acre stadium project, which includes the soccer-specific venue, hotel and broadcast studio, will sit in a 136-acre lot.

Two-and-a-half times the size of The Gateway shopping center in Salt Lake City, the completed parcel will bring an estimated 3,500 jobs, $8 million a year in property taxes and $5 million a year in sales tax revenue, Dolan said.

"(It) will be the largest economic development project in the history of Utah — a 136-acre, $650 million project," the mayor said.

The entire site sits between I-15, 9000 South, State Street and 9400 South. It's next to Jordan Commons and the South Towne Expo Center and mall, and will soon have a TRAX station. And if Sandy can convince the county to use $71 million in hotel-room tax dollars and sign on to $25 million in Redevelopment Agency funds that uses the city and county's cut of property taxes, those millions will act as "seed money" for the big project.

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E-mail: astowell@desnews.com