Sandy officials go to Texas stadium

As Salt Lake County officials begin an investigation into Real Salt Lake's finances today, Sandy city officials will be in Texas finding out how a soccer stadium can benefit city coffers.

Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan and City Council members are leaving today for Frisco, Texas, where the newest Major League Soccer stadium was erected last year.

The $80 million dollar project, Pizza Hut Park, is a 120-acre complex with 17 tournament-grade fields. The city, county and school district contributed $55 million for the project.

In Sandy, the future development is to be a 42-acre, $180 million stadium and adjoining hotel and broadcast studio. Salt Lake County and Sandy plan to give the team $55 million in public subsidies through hotel taxes, redevelopment agency funds and a shared parking lot.

Numerous Sandy city officials and state leaders traveled to Carson, Calif., in December to tour the Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Real officials want to start construction this month on the stadium complex, for which an official groundbreaking was held in August.

But now construction can't begin until a contract is signed with the county, team spokesman Tom Love said. That won't happen until the county finishes its investigation into the team's finances, which officially begins today.

The county's Debt Review Committee will convene this afternoon to determine Real's financial stability.

Mayor Peter Corroon had promised he wouldn't hand over $55 million in public subsidies to the team without assurances the team will stay in business.

The committee will delve into all aspects of the team's financial operation, including investment partners and Real's business model.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com