Sandy gives funds for All-Star Game but all cities benefit

Sandy is the only municipality giving money to Real Salt Lake for Wednesday's Major League Soccer All-Star Game, but other Utah cities are getting benefits such as a new playground and tax revenue from player hotel stays.

The Sandy City Council voted last week to forgive $15,000 in bond payment debt that RSL would have had to pay later this year. In exchange, the municipality gets its name broadcast on reader boards inside Rio Tinto Stadium, boards whose image will be broadcast to more than 150 countries, according to RSL President Bill Manning.

The host city also will get its name in newspapers all over the world, said RSL spokesman Trey Fitz-Gerald.

"Sandy will get mentioned numerous, exponential number of times nationally and internationally," said Fitz-Gerald, "all saying, 'Live from Sandy, Utah.' "

Nevertheless, the MLS All-Stars and Everton FC players, coaches and staff are staying at the Canyons Resort in Park City as part of a sponsorship deal with MLS. In addition, the professional soccer league hosted a free concert and All-Star party Tuesday — both in Park City.

"They're just using our facilities for all of their meetings and player functions and all of that stuff," said Canyons Resort spokeswoman Libby Dowd. "We have wonderful meeting and convention space. We're really one of the premier locations that can handle a crowd this size."

Dowd said the resort actively sought out the hosting opportunity but isn't an official sponsor of Wednesday's game.

"As far as the teams themselves, it would be nice to have them in Sandy, but I think we're looking more at the people who attend the game," said Sandy City Councilman Bryant Anderson, who voted for the $15,000 credit but said he wasn't the measure's strongest supporter. "There's a reasonable crowd expected. It will fill hotels in Sandy."

Local hotel chains agreed.

"There's a good chance of a sellout," said Suzi Summer, manager of the Best Western Cottontree Inn in Sandy. "Whatever is going on, it's doing wonderful for us … especially in this economy."

The owner of four hotels near the Sandy stadium said it's difficult to know why guests are staying in Sandy but that this week was busy across the board.

The new stadium has been very positive for the city, especially in terms of big events, said Scott George, Woodbury Corp.'s director of hotels. Weekly soccer games, though, are more "hit and miss" in terms of economic impact, George said.