Real soccer stadium petition falls short

A referendum to allow Utahns to vote whether $35 million of public dollars should be given to the Real soccer stadium fell short by 79,653 signatures.

Of the 91,966 signatures needed, only 12,343 were certified. In addition, only one county submitted enough petitions — Daggett County.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. announced today that the petition challenging the Legislature's decision to fund stadium land and infrastructure was insufficient. He said only three boxes of petitions were turned in.

The Legislature approved the funding package in February, which forces Salt Lake County's cut of hotel-tax dollars to be used at the stadium site in Sandy.

Many Utahns were surprised to watch the Legislature step up to Real's aid days after Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon shot down the funds for a third time in nearly a year. Corroon deemed it a risky investment.

A grass-roots group Get Real Utah formed shortly after the 2007 Legislative Session ended in opposition to the deal. The group had a little more than 30 days to collect the nearly 92,000 signatures of 10 percent of voters who participated in the last gubernatorial election from at least 15 of Utah's 29 counties.

Daggett, the least populated county in the state, was the only county that hit that threshold. From Salt Lake County, 10,848 signatures were certified.

Real began construction on April 9 for a $110 million soccer stadium in Sandy. Sandy has committed an additional $10 million in redevelopment agency funds. Real hopes to finish the stadium in August 2008.

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Contributing: Tiffany Erickson

E-mail: astowell@desnews.com