Not all of Real's 5,300 parking spaces will be on-site

They're easily taken for granted, and with nothing to brag about but a few colored stripes, they're anything but exciting.

But now that 5,300 parking spaces have emerged as the hinge of a $10 million deal between Sandy and Real Salt Lake, they certainly are interesting — especially to nearby businesses and residents who have suddenly become the "haves" next to the "have nots."

By the time Real Salt Lake opens its doors this fall for a new season in a new arena, the stadium will have ample parking — but it won't all be on-site. Some people will have to park about a 15-minute walk away from the stadium, or take shuttles from longer distances, and that's making the neighbors nervous.

"There's no question that, being right across the street from the stadium, that this would be an attractive place to park — much more attractive than being bused from another parking venue a mile away," said Jordan Commons property manager Jim Derrick. "But we fear that if we let the camel's nose in the tent, then nobody can control it."

Real Salt Lake has so far obtained 4,400 of the necessary 5,300 spaces through contracting surrounding lots, purchasing some property and piecing together a parking puzzle that stretches north of 9000 South and past 10000 South. The soccer franchise is busy arranging shuttles and plotting traffic patterns — and it is ahead of schedule to meet a midsummer deadline. But so far, Real has not determined how to deter its patrons from parking on nearby residential streets or in parking lots that belong to neighboring businesses.

That's making Derrick nervous. Jordan Commons has enough parking spaces to fill half of Real's need, but at times, the popular movie/restaurant complex is bursting at its own parking seams. When a big blockbuster comes, or it's just a busy Saturday night, there's no leeway to accommodate any soccer fans who don't feel like walking or shuttling to their appropriately parked cars.

The South Towne Exposition Center, also across the street from the stadium, has the same issue. The Expo Center's occasional parking problems were part of the reason Sandy is requiring Real to provide a parking plan 120 days before opening day, according to Sandy's assistant community development director, Nick Duerksen.

"We've visited arenas across the state and surrounding states, and we've seen how they deal with the parking," Duerksen said. "One of the things we came to the conclusion of is it actually is better to have the parking in various locations rather than one location."