Salt Lake County rejects Sandy stadium plan

A proposed soccer stadium in Sandy received a death blow Tuesday, as the Salt Lake County Council rejected the city's funding plan to build a stadium for Real Salt Lake.

A visibly frustrated Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan said he's through petitioning the County Council for help.

"I have no interest to proceed," Dolan said. "As far as I'm concerned, the project is dead."

On a 5-4 vote, the council rejected the proposal that would have funneled $30 million in hotel-tax dollars to cover infrastructure costs for a soccer stadium. The proposal also included $45 million for projects in downtown Salt Lake and $15 million for recreational facilities in Magna and West Valley City, so that funding was nixed, as well.

Real Salt Lake CEO Dean Howes said he was "disappointed" with the council's vote. He declined to comment on whether the team is actively shopping for a new home outside Utah.

"If we can't get a home here, then our options — all options — have to be explored," Howes said.

Now it's back to the drawing board, and several politicians are crafting plans to keep the team in Utah.

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson on Tuesday asked the County Council to help fund a stadium at the Utah State Fairpark, while County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson pushed to keep the team at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah.

Although Dolan said County Councilman David Wilde promised to vote for the proposal, Wilde was the swing vote to defeat the proposal. Wilde said he did not feel comfortable with several pieces of Sandy's proposal, but wants to continue negotiations to make it work.

"If people want to lose their temper and say we'll move, that's their decision," he said. "I don't think it's over."

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