Deseret News | Name for sale: Real Salt Lake courts companies for naming rights to soccer stadium

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Name for sale: Real Salt Lake courts companies for naming rights to soccer stadium

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slc84101 | 12:48 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Real Salt Lake/Dave Checketts can't do any worse than EnergySolutions Arena but then this is Utah, get the Utah legislature to spend the money to name the stadium after themselves since it was the legislature that ok'd the money after better people saw the project for what it is-pie in the sky, castle in the clouds self promotion.

Should go cheap | 12:55 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

The team is bad and soccer is sooooo boring! I have watched the game and I find Pro bowling more interesting. The stadium will run mostly empty and some company will have thrown away good money. If a company is that hard up for advertising I hope they get the naming rights cheap.

neun | 4:42 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

soccer is mainly forgein sport to us... mainly for the hispanic community, actually. Basketball have always been a big thing for Utah. Good luck trying to jump-charge the soccer community in Utah!

Comments continue below

Jimmy's Sneakers | 7:15 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

How about Hogi Yogi Field? or Pebbles-in-my Pocket Place? or Chuck-o-Rama Stadium? or Huntsman Chemicals Bowl? or Kennecott Copper Quarry? or Franklin Squires Foreclosure Stadium?

The Sandy RecPlex | 8:28 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Let's call it what it really is and will be known as in a few years when the team either folds and/or moves; The Sandy RecPlex. I wonder what the family rate will be to use the field?

While they are at it, they might want to change the name to Real Salt Lake of Sandy to expand marketing possibilities. Then again, it won't matter as most don't care about soccer or won't care when this doomed from the beginning venture fails anyway. No one will care for obvious reasons, as most don't now.

The only people that wanted this deal are a few legislators and a few hundred soccer fans. What a complete waste of money and display of delusion and willful ignorance.

stephencpace | 8:35 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Soon-to-be-a-car-lot Field?

Anonymous | 8:49 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

I think $1.5 Million per year may be a bit steep. I hear Energy Solutions didn't pay that amount for the Delta Center. I am a soccer fan, but I have a tough time believing they can get that much for naming rights....and for all the pundits out there, soccer has its place, and will draw much better than you think.

Soccer Advisor | 8:54 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

I think that it should be named either Enron Field or Worldcom Stadium. It would be symbolic of the scam that Dave Checketts pulled on Salt Lake County. Just as these two companies did with shareholders, employees and customers.

Real Football | 8:55 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Quit flaunting your ignorance you provincial Utahns. You sound so ridiculous to the rest of the world. I'm embarrassed that my home town acts so silly when it comes to the sport. Hispanic community? LOL, that rises above ignorance and borders on racist. I'm as white as they come and am a huge supporter of the English Premier League which is the most watched sports league in the world. Boring? Come off it. What do you call baseball? Learn about something before you criticize it. I can't believe this community ever won the Olympic bid.

GO SOCCER | 9:01 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

SOCCER OR "FOOTBALL" BECAUSE THAT'S THE NAME WORLDWIDE, IS AN INTERNATIONAL SPORT, NOT JUST AN HISPANIC SPORT, SPORT NUMBER ONE IN THA WORLD, AND PLEASE DONT TRY TO SAY THAT NBA AND ALL OTHERS SPORTS HERE IN THE US ARE "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP" SPORTS, KEEP IT FOR US ONLY."F.I.B.A", "F.I.F.A" THEY ALREADY HAVE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT, SOCCER IS NOT BORING, BORING FOR WHO DOESNT KNOW ABOUT SPORTS.

go soccer | 9:03 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

soccer will be boring here in the states if you dont spend money for "real" good players", not for guys that are old or dont know how to play soccer, its a young sport here, and guys from here dont play soccer, that is the truth

Public Say? | 9:10 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

It's time that we pony up again, and pull out the legislature's pocket book... It would be only fitting that with such a large percentage of the cost being covered by the tax payers, we might as well also buy the right to name the place.

I suggest something a little more off beat, rather than the traditional corporate names.

Perhaps, "Checkett's Free Ride to Financial Gain Arena"

or "Huntsman's Kiss Up/Waste of Money Stadium"

or even "What the Heck is Government Funding Being Spent on this For Field"

It's odd that when the national economy is on the brink of recession, due to consumer debt and foreclosure, that we are blessed enough in the state of Utah to be spending our tax dollars on a well needed soccer stadium.

Checketts smoke and mirror tactics have taken the risk for his investment and placed it squarely on the government.

I guess we will at least always have this nice memorial in Sandy to our own stupidity...

Simple and to the point: | 9:47 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

The RIPOFF BOWL

Anonymous | 9:50 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Soccer will never take off in this state. What a complete and total waste of money!!

Get Over It Already! | 10:01 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

How about "The Stadium Built Despite Ignorant Nay Sayers and FAILED Anti-Stadium Initiatives."

Lets be honest | 10:07 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

most citizens of this great nation could care less about professional soccer! Almost no one in this country cares what sport they watch in Brazil or England. The world can have soccer but I hate to see good money wasted on stadiums that will not be filled. I understand the rules of soccer and have watched it, much the same as I have Rugby and Cricket, but it will not sell in the US outside of vastly larger population areas.
Someone raised the point of a true world champion, good point, but 95% of the people in this country could care less if soccer has a world champion. Try to focus on where this is taking place and who ultimately will pay for it. Common sense says it will end up a waste of money. State money which could be used to compensate teachers, police, fire, improve public facilities that serve the whole population or improve infrastructure. It just appears to be a waste of finite resources.

we paid | 10:17 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

How about tax payer stadium since we already paid for it whether we liked it or not. The Jazz which were playing a proven sport in a proven league waited years for the Delta Center. Soccer is a fun sport but the team may fail to make money in Utah or the league could even fail. We should have waited to see if it would succeed in Utah before we put out all the tax payers money. I hope it takes off and we have a full stadium and every game on TV but this was too big a risk at this time, and we made the risk, name after us.

brucio | 10:31 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

wow! the negativity is heavy around here on this thread. how about:
"Utah Is Filled With Rage & Hate Stadium"

Anonymous | 10:34 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Most of of these comments really blow me away how dumb and ill-informed some of you readers really are about the sport of soccer and about the stadium funding and who paid for what!!

Motorcraft Ute | 10:45 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

I think this is sad. As I read the comments all I can think is how ignorant most of you all are. I am not a soccer fan, but I have no objections to what they did. I think people need to do a little more research before they decide to make dumb comments. I bet that if you were to look at it you would see that Real is more successful, fan base wise, than the bee's. I know for sure that they draw more fans on a regular basis than the Bee's. Yet no one complains of the sad state of Baseball in Utah. I just cant believe how ignorant you all are.

Steve Williams | 10:49 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

How about "Utah Taxpayers Stadium", since we are paying for it?

It is still insulting that our elected officials allowed Dave Checketts to railroad them into forcing taxpayers to subdizide Checketts' real estate investment that is disguised as a soccer team.

Public funds should never be used to promote private enterprise!

how bout | 11:38 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

VERIZON WIRELESS FIELD

Anonymous | 11:52 a.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Soccer will never take off in Utah? Give me a break. Soccer has already took off in Utah. More kids play soccer in Utah than football, baseball or basketball. Real draws some of the biggest crowds in the MLS, even though they struggle. When's the last time you went a Bee's game...never probably, Real brings in twice the fans per game.

Let's not forget the stadium will be used for many other things as well and will bring in a ton of money and jobs to Sandy.

I agree with Steve | 12:01 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

100%. If Dave Checkettes had a sound business opportunity, he wouldn't have been begging for you and me transfer money from our bank accounts into his.

The real tradegy is that he was successfull at doing this, thanks Governor Huntsman!

May he never be elected to any public office ever, ever again!

SG | 12:04 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Seriously, the bile in these comments is unbecoming. Most of you are cynical about something you know next to nothing about--which is why I'm typically cynical about cynicism.

Ryan | 12:10 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

How about, Wha Wha Cry Cry Stadium. It can reflect both sides of the staduim issue. The Euro football backers crying for respect, and the anti stadium backers whining about the money.

Also, it is always very amusing to see someone asking for informed/researched responses on a comment board.

Steve - Re: Steve Williams | 12:17 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Utah taxpayers aren't paying for it (well most of it). I assume you're refering to the money coming from the Utah hotel taxes... those taxes going to the stadium are coming from TOURISTS and visitors to Utah, not you and I (unless you spend time at a local hotel here in the city/state you live in). So why should any of us locals get upset?

You say "public funds should never be used to promote private enterprise"... well unless I'm mistaken that happened with the Delta Center. Did that turn out to be a bad thing or poor choice? No. Doing this is commonplace. Many sports teams and other private businesses (take Hogle Zoo for example) seek and get tax money to fund their construction.

If it's something that the public will be using and/or it benefits them, why not let or have them chip in?

Turn the Page | 12:20 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

How about "The Stadium that Ignorance, Short-Sightedness, Narrow Thinking, and Negativity Couldn't Stop."

Steve -Give Real&Soccer a chance | 12:27 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Why do you all assume Real is going to fail? Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, the U.S. is just behind everyone else on this. The sport in recent years has slowly gained some ground here, perhaps it will eventually aproach the level in popularity of at least Hockey (I don't see it very soon being as big as basketball, football, and baseball).

And speaking of Hockey... the general public isn't exactly super wild about it and don't rally behind it even half as much as the three prime sports I named above, yet arenas are provided for it and nobody tries to suggest they shouldn't have one. So why so with Soccer?

Prior to Real coming to Utah I had the same attitude many of you have (finding it boring and pointless), but after attending their first game in Utah and watching several on TV after I've become a fan. It is fairly fun to watch.

Give the sport a chance to catch on like in the rest of the world... AND don't count out Real yet, the Jazz weren't exactly hot either when they first arrived.

Utah Soccer | 12:36 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Thanks Dave Checketts, Thanks Governor Huntsman!!!

@ "Simple and to the point" Soccer venues or fields are not referred to as "bowls." That's OK just proves that some of the negativity stems from ignorance about the sport...Bowls as you say are a part of the other less commonly played football vernacular.

evensteven | 12:45 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Too many cry babies here. Checketts is benefiting from the taxpayer in only 1 way - he gets a dirt cheap ground lease on the plot the stadium sits on. No different than SLC getting their dirt cheap lease from the LDS Church for the Salt Palace.

Sandy bought the ground and owns the ground. They are putting in some public infrastructure for safety and traffic flow. They facilitated parking in other areas instead of building a new sea of asphalt. They are working with other developers (and asking for a nice ROI) interested in that super block. They freed up $20 million for SL County to use on something other than Expo Center parking.

At the end of the day, if soccer does fail, all it takes is a wrecking ball and Sandy has prime commercial property worth more than what they paid for it.

You people who think you KNOW how this deal works need to get a clue.

Mark understands... | 1:04 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

SOCCER is a boring sport.
LDS are not Christians.
JAZZ will never win a championship.
UTE fans are drunks.
BYU fans are arrogrant.

Actually, I am an LDS fan of REAL, JAZZ, COUGS and I occassionally like the UTES. I hope Real completes their beautiful stadium, continues to draw large crowds and makes the play-offs next year.

I played football, basketball and baseball in high school; but during the past 10 years I have gained an appreciation for the beautiful game and now consider myself a knowledgable soccer fan.

Frequent Flyer | 1:06 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

"Tax Hijack Stadium" sounds good to me. Or "Pork Barrel Field." Or "Faux Conservative Folly."

Every time I pay hotel taxes when traveling, I think about Utah's wasteful use of the money and hope the community adding 12-15% to my hotel bills is making better use of it than they are here.

cuncabo | 1:30 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

It should be ELi-Lilly (or who ever makes prozac) stadium. May be Miller Beer Staium just leave off the BEER so everyone would thinks its Larry H.

Mikey | 2:21 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Heaven forbid we have another entertainment option in the valley! I mean with all the fun stuff to do here and all......

Anonymous | 2:29 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

You ask when the U.S. will catch up to the rest of the (third) world? What I want to know is when the rest of the world will catch up to the U.S. Soccer's ridiculous!

Lucky Utahns | 2:31 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

You Utahns are lucky to have such a great landmark and Franchise in your small little bubble of a town. Most of you don't realize what a gem you have, and what it can and WILL become.

Seriously? | 3:01 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

From Neun "soccer is mainly forgein to us...Basketball have always been a big thing."

Yeah, well, apparently good grammar is also foreign to you.

Steve - Stadium Name... | 3:14 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

The stadium name should be something that says "Utah", something that has to do with here... but the trend is to name them after a business that pays to name it. So given that, pick a Utah business not some out of state one. The one that would be best I think is Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) as it is a nationwide (even global??) chain that began IN Utah. KFC Arena is already taken so it would have to be one of these:

1. KFC Park
2. KFC Field
3. KFC Stadium

Brigham | 4:06 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

This Isn't the Place...

Utah Historians for Soccer | 4:38 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

This is "the RIGHT place..."

If your going to take a quote from (local) history, make sure you get it correct. Typical of anti-stadium whiners, get your facts straight!!!

RSL Punk | 4:46 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Third world? Last I checked, England was the founding country of "association football," or football to every country but the U.S. and Australia. England has five fully professional leagues of 20+ teams each. Every country in Europe is similar--multiple professional leagues, and every other civilized (and, yes, some not-so-civilized) country in the world has professional leagues. There's a little competition they play every four years called the World Cup that pits every one of those leagues against each other. Last year, the final of the World Cup gained more than a billion viewers (that's billion with a "b"). How many watched the Super Bowl? The NBA Championships? Must be something to it that all the haters on this comment board are missing.

Boondoggle Bowl | 7:53 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

The Boondoggle Bowl.
Taxes from one pocket must be replaced with money from somewhere else in the budget.
The popularity of soccer in the rest of the world is irrelavent to whether a soccer stadium is needed in football loving Utah. If worldwide popularity is the test, then how about a brand new olympic quality velodrome? As far as I know, another european innovation, the bidet, has never caught on in the U.S.A. either. Why call those with a little business sense "haters". Wanting fiscal responsibility does not make one a "hater".

Garry | 11:21 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

It' sad when citizens really don't understand what a deal like this will bring to the area. The tax base will be much greater than the costs.
It's to bad some of you people are so jealous of someone who has the guts to go out and do something, Stick their neck out on the chopping block. All the people that are whining and complaining have no clue who Dave Checketts is and I'm pretty sure they have never sat down and talked to him for any length of time. If you have you would find out he is a class individual with extraordinary morals and values. I hope he succeeds. Go for it!

oussan | 11:28 p.m. Dec. 28, 2007

Xango Field, to match the jersey.

Contrary to Garry | 12:41 a.m. Dec. 29, 2007

WHY is there so much ridiculous amateur divining of emotions and motives? "Jealous" "Whining" "Complaining"
Garry, you are really out of touch with the real issues here. Also, don't appreciate that you are implying that others here just aren't smart enough to see how great this ill fated project is, in your opinion. I think you chose an appropriate picture with your "stick your neck out" illustration. Many of your fellow citizens are wise enough to not put a cities budget on the chopping block.

"Good Guy" isn't enough | 12:48 a.m. Dec. 29, 2007

Many a "class individual with extraordinary morals and values" has run a business into the ground. Give him a "good guy award". That doesn't mean he will be successful here. Oh, and he should be using his OWN money, not taxpayer's.

Dave Beckham | 2:59 a.m. Dec. 29, 2007

Cheat It Like Checketts

Dean Howes | 3:02 a.m. Dec. 29, 2007

The Howes of Checketts has a nice ring to it!

Why? | 10:56 a.m. Dec. 29, 2007

For those of you convinced that RSL will be successful, I ask why?

Why has RSL's attendance dropped every season?
Why does their business plan call for them to be profitable at near-sellout crowds at double the ticket price? Do you realy think they can do it?
And on top of that, they also need to fill more non-soccer dates than Energy Solutions Arena fills non-basketball dates in a year. That includes several concerts with crowds larger that 17,000 per year, despite the fact that there have been but a handful of 17,000 patron concerts the past 10 years. And will they have "floor" (i.e. field) seating? That is very rough on the grass, even if the weather is good. If it's even a little rainy, RSL will play on a brown field of dirt.

Hey, maybe they can name it after that lady in Orem who didn't water her lawn....

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2 photos

August Miller, Deseret News

Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts listens to a speech by Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan on Dec. 10 during a topping-off ceremony for the new $110 million soccer stadium that is being built in Sandy.

Gallery (2 photos)