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Real Salt Lake: Sizing up Rio Tinto Stadium vs. rest of the league

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Mac Lad | 6:16 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Interesting perspective. Kyle seemed fixated on how players entered the pitch--more so than more pedestrian fan issues like parking, public transport, or ticket & food/drink prices.

Still, a good read.

Anonymous | 7:35 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Why would Beckerman know anything about parking, public transport or ticket and food/drink prices? Obviously the article was supposed to be from a players perspective, not that of a fan.

Where you come out? | 7:55 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

All the players are complaining about some of the stadiums because of where the players come out of the locker room. First of all this isn't Europe and second of all these players act like they are professional athletes or something.

Comments continue below

Idaho Cougar | 9:18 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

In the words of that giant turtle from "The Never Ending Story," --- "We don't care. We don't even care that we don't care."

I've always been anti-soccer to the point of saying really dumb things like, "Soccer was God's first attempt at a sport. He realized his mistake and created baseball." My young son and I would drive by a soccer practice and I'd say, "How selfish -- they're keeping young boys from playing baesball on that grass."

One day, we were walking past a soccer game on our way to a school and my 5 year old stopped and screamed, "Hey, you're being selfish. Kids want to play baseball on that field. GET OFF!"

Parents, becareful of what you say. We really do create "mini me's" and that isn't always good ...

Can't wait! | 9:27 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Got my tickets for the home opener. It's going to be great! The stadium really is a gem.

Wow | 9:48 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Idaho Cougar is:

1. A soccer hater
2. A baseball lover
3. A BYU fan

How much worse can your life get?

Great Stadium, but . . . | 10:08 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

It's a great stadium, but will they be able to keep it filled. Unfortunately the location could hurt the attendance. I hope that the stadium has good success.

SomeGuy | 10:10 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Well, replace number 3 with "A Utah fan" and, well, that would be much worse.

Santiago | 10:20 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Baseball is the most anti athletic sport ever!!!! Fat people can play it because you never get to run... and while you play... the other fat people sitting on the bench are eating sunflower seeds.... and you call baseball a sport?!?!?!?! Futbol, soccer is better!!!

Re: Idaho Cougar | 10:25 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Like my father says Idaho is a good place to be from.

I'm sorry you're still there.

Location? | 10:52 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

How will the location hurt attendance? It's in the middle of the valley, close enough to Utah County to make it worth the drive but still not so far from Davis County to make it too far. It is located on a main roadway (State St.) and is located between two freeway off ramps. There is a trax station within walking distance for most people and a shuttle from the trax station for those who don't want to walk. And there is plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities close by to do before or after the game. I simply don't understand your comment, unless you are the baseball fan from IdaHo.

Great Stadium | 10:54 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Things I love about it:

Grass
Player entrance at midfield
20,000 seats with chair back, no bleachers
Seats all the way around (at least for games)
Stadium Name. Can't argue with 20 million.
Support....I think this will not be a problem.

Kurt | 11:00 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I wouldn't cross the street to see Real Salt Lake play for FREE. In fact, you probably couldn't pay me $20 to watch a game for FREE.

Soccer loses me when those sissies fake injuries to get fouls called. You'd think half of those guys are having seizures on the field and then five minutes later, they are running around the field.

What is that about?

Allegedly Not Caring | 11:02 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Anyone who posts on a soccer article to claim they don't care is lying by definition.

"I ain't an athlete, lady, I'm a baseball player."
- John Kruk

Upset Taxpayer | 11:06 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

We all hope the stadium is a success because we are paying for it.

Soccer stinks. I plan on seeing High School Football games there during state. That's about it, except for maybe a good U2 concert.

Soccer will never work in Utah for the same reasons it never has captured Americans around the country.

For upset taxpayer | 11:49 a.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Apparently upset taxpayer has been living under a log for the last 4 years because soccer IS working in Utah and has been from day 1.

And by the way, not one cent of taxpayer money went to the stadium.....but don't let that stop you from having a good old uninformed rant.

Funny comments | 12:03 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

"Soccer will never work in Utah"

Umm, too late.

"You couldnt pay me $20 dollars to watch a game for FREE"

That makes alot of sense.

Thanks for the support. Buzz is buzz, and we appreciate it.

RE: Upset Taxpayer | 12:22 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Man life must really sick there in your little bubble. Who cares about U2 and what are you talking about americans not capturing soccer? If you pulled your head out once in a while you might notice that MLS is constantly growing. How is that possible with soccer having no fans? These upset taxpayers are a total joke! Your comments make no sence and why do you take the time to read the articles and comment on them if your don't care? Why don't you go watch hockey instead, post messages on their boards because your comments will actually make sence to that crowd. GO REAL!!!

Re: Wow | 12:24 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

You forgot to mention he/she is from Idaho.

Upset Taxpayer 2 | 12:54 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I also am an upset taxpayer. I am upset that my taxes went to build the U of U football stadium when I hate the Utes. I am upset that they build museums, parks, libraries, opera houses and schools with my tax dollars because I don't like the arts and I don't have kids.

What, you mean the point of taxes isn't to feed my own personal wishes?

If you are against using tax dollars for the stadium then you must be against using tax dollars for all of the things I listed above. If not, then you are an ignorant hypocrite hater. So please people, think next time before you open your mouth and make yourself look like a fool.

Bill | 1:21 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

FYI:

- Soccer IS the fastest growing pro sport in the USA.
- Soccer IS the largest sport in the world. Nothing is close.
- Soccer IS being played at this moment all over the nation by kids, adults and professionals.
- MLS and minor league soccer is expanding quicker than any other major American sport or league.
- The owners behind MLS are wealthy, smart and many have vision. The future is secured.

Dear Idaho Baseball Dad | 1:29 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Teach your child to be as ignornat as you are, and to look foolish in public like you do, good stuff!

So you know, baseball and baseball fields all over the United States are being changed for soccer leagues and soccer fields. Amazingly, kids actually like to play, run and participate in team sports and soccer provides that for girls and boys. Its cheaper, more fun, more athletic, teaches better lessons and isn't so boring. Go figure?!?

Kurt | 1:40 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Soccer is sooooo BORING it makes me sick. Real will fill that stadium 2 times and then attendance will fade because MLS is the minor leagues of an already boring sport.

Real Salt Lake won't exist in five years. Deal with it.

PurpleViking | 1:49 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Got my tickets for opening night and cannot wait.

BTW -- To those who wish that soccer was dead and that "Soccer will never work in Utah for the same reasons it never has captured Americans around the country" -- NOTE : the MLS is growing very fast. Seattle welcomes a team next year, followed by Philly in 2010, and two more MLS teams in 2011.

Also -- The Seattle Sounders have sold 16,500 season tickets, and they haven't even played an MLS game yet! You say Utahns don't care about RSL, yet we average over 15,000 fans a game.

I am super excited about the new RSL stadium. Can't wait to have a legitimate stadium to call our own.

Also upset | 1:58 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Even Beckerman (whoever he is) admits that the MLS has trouble filling the seats. How is that going to be different in football and basketball crazy Utah?

Please, someone, answer that question...intelligently!!

I get it | 2:06 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Cities can add as many MLS teams as they want, BUT they can't pay people to fill the seats. Soccer will always be fifth or sixth behind the big three, NASCAR and golf/tennis. It's a fact.

Buy your tickets now, because Real Salt Lake will be a thing of the past in five years.

Re: Also upset | 2:07 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Stats : RSL over the past 4 years have averaged between 15,000-19,000 fans a game. That is just barely below what the Jazz average.

Having a new stadium should increase the average numbers as many (like myself) haven't gone because of the stadium.

For those complaining -- please answer why you think RSL will fail ... intelligently!!!

Re : I get it | 2:13 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

MLS is business -- why would they be adding teams -- 4 in the next 3 years, if they are not making money??

And BTW, nobody claimed that MLS would eclipse the NFL, MLB, or NBA. Why would that matter?

You are confused. Go back to NASCAR.

Statistician | 2:15 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

"between 15,000-19,000"

Precise stats. What is the average: 15 or 19? That looks like Checketts Math to me.

RSL will fail...SOOONER that five years. I'm out.

Re: I get it | 2:16 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Why do you want it to fail? Do you have some kind of hateful vendetta? Seems like a concerned citizen who cares about their city would want local business to succeed. If RSL fails, the city fails, and it hurts everyone.

Why are you a playa hatta?

Rich | 2:16 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Yeah, I'd rather my kids stood around aimlessly waiting for someone to hit a ball to them, or sat around waiting to hit one. 5 minutes of enjoyment! Joy!

People saying soccer is boring is insane. Sure, you don't have to enjoy it and there are boring games, BUT THIS HAPPENS IN EVERY SPORT. Football and baseball are slow. Stop being so narrow-minded and perochial, because that's exactly what you are.

Watch Real be a success.

RSL will fail because.... | 2:16 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

......shoot....I'm all out of ammo.

I really thought that this "soccer" thing would die.

Now they have a stadium, a Jersey Sponsor, and a huge Naming partner for their new home.

Maybe time to take off the blindfold.

Apples to Apples | 2:29 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Jazz: 19,000 tickets at an average of $75 times 42 home games = $60 million.

Real: 15,000 tickets at an average of $10 times 10 home games =$1.5 million.

And the Stadium cost WHAT? Real will fail and time will take off your rosey glasses.

Soccer has been around along time and is still in sixth place in viewership behind football, basketball, baseball, NASCAR and golf. Deal with it.

Apples | 2:38 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

New stadium...isn't paid for.
New jersey sponsor...a freakin' MLM juice.
Naming partner...Rio Tinto.

Not a sure foundation if you ask me. There are not alot of MBA graduates on this post today. RSL will FAIL!!

Re: Apples to Apples | 2:44 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

OK -- so since you are throwing out ignorant numbers we cannot have any kind of legitimate conversation.

RSL tickets are not $10. When did you last go to a game? The average ticket is $60. There are more expensive and less. I bought mine for $30 a ticket. Goal line I think go down as low as $15.

I bought Jazz tickets for game 5 playoffs against the Rockets for $8. Now, I am not saying that is the average -- just that your $75 vs $10 is not based in reality at all. The Jazz do have a lot more games than RSL, so yes the Jazz will be much more profitable - if that was your intended point.

In any event .. I am off to deal with it. Thanks.

Jazz will fail | 2:46 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I think the Jazz will fail as well.... probably in the first round

Holy Cow | 2:47 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Who would pay $60 to watch soccer? Good gracious...

Just admit | 2:50 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Just admit you love soccer BUT can't possibly explain why over $100 dollars was spent on a soccer stadium that will be lucky to generate $2 million dollars a year.

I'm talking money here, not shin pads and faking seizures. Good ol' business.

You guys should all work for Fanny Mae.

I mean seriously, what are you all talking about?

Money well spent | 2:50 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Utah sports fans are stupid anyways. I hope RSL fails for the sole purpose of making all the Utah people cry more about taxes.

I give the Jazz about two years | 2:53 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Who wants to watch a bunch of odd shaped men run around. I think the Jazz will fail soon. Jazz stats:

Ticket Price $1,000,000,000 Tickets sold 25,000 that only comes out to $50

RSL ticket price $10 tickets sold 20,000 total $50

I don't know I went to Utah public school

$60 soccer tickets | 2:59 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Who would pay $60 to watch a TIE GAME? Freakin' UNAMERICAN!!!

Nobody has explained the faked seizures yet?

I'm waiting......

Sports Fan | 3:08 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Reading all the comments - arrogant people calling soccer boring, insecure people defending soccer; I am going to buy 2 season tickets and find out for myself. My expectations are, that I won't understand the game, but when I do understand what the strategies are then I will appreciate the players and the game.

Ignorance is bliss | 3:15 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Wow, you gotta love all the ignorant comments from the soccer bashers, it must be very intimidating to watch a beautiful "soccer" stadium go up before your very eyes. Must be a pain to see all those kids now playing soccer instead of baseball/football. Also must be really strange not to understand why its happening or why you don't understand the game. If the Jazz can still be a success in that market then the soccer team isn't going anywhere either. Why is it that this team in the smallest market in MLS continues to average as many fans as it does. I guess there is a market for soccer in Utah and there is just nothing that you soccer bashing idiots can do about it. Soccer will soon be America's sport.

Wow | 3:43 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

$100 plus stadium for team that will generate 2 to 3 million dollars next year (and that's generous).

I know Utahns foreclose on their homes alot so I guess that can't figure out how to repay loans.

That must explain the lunacy known as Real Salt Lake.

Anonymous | 3:48 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Soccer isn't for everybody, I'm okay with that, it's just funny how some are so threatened by it as a sport. What is it? Did you fail so miserably at it as a kid that it still stings today? Were you too uncordinated to play it? Or maybe it's that your kids are too uncordinated to play it or too lazy to have to run that much? It just so happens that they have a sport for such kids... it's called baseball, you can be fat, slow, lazy, sit around for 95% of the game. Maybe you could have your kids try that, and for you... try softball, it's basically the same thing, just for older, slower, fatter versions of your kids

Re: Upset Taxpayer 2 | 3:49 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I wish posters like you would be informed enough to get your facts straight. Not one cent, yes not one cent of taxpayer money went to build the U of U football stadium. So, go ahead and hate the Utes but don't blame it on the stadium. The stadium was built with money from the Eccles family (I suppose you have heard of them but probably not) and revenue bonds that are paid back through ticket and concession sales. My season ticket of $52 per game are helping with the bond payment. The stadium also makes money getting leased out to others like the 2002 Winter Olympics which paid a sizable lease for the opening and closing ceremonies, state high school football games and most recently to Real Salt Lake. These are the facts, you can take it to the bank.

Re : Statistician | 3:54 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I didn't know we had to be so precise on these message boards.

RSL has averaged, per year, between 15K and 19K, over the last 4 years, so the season average varies per year. If you average it across all 4 years, the average attendance is 16,304.5. You with me? Let me know if I am moving too fast.

And Forbes released a recent article, cited by the DesNews, that they anticipate RSL profits to be $20.3 million in 2009. So if you crunch the numbers (and yes, I DO have an MBA) they turn out pretty good.

Also -- since we are citing numbers, the biggest NFL franchise, the Cowboys, is worth $1.8 Billion. Manchester United, one of the biggest soccer teams in the world, is worth $6.4 Billion. Now don't slam me about England vs MLS, I get it -- point is that there is growth to be had. Soccer is profitable. You'll still hate it, which is fine, but you cannot argue with the stats. Thanks.

R Miller | 3:55 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

What is really interesting is that there are so many people who want soccer to fail becuase they don't personally like it or more likely just don't understand it. People, life isn't a zero sum game. Just because soccer folks get their stadium doesn't mean others don't get what they want. How many basketball or football stadiums do we have at present in Utah (10,15,20). I don't hear the soccer folks whining about them very often.

Just because you may not care for soccer doesn't mean many reasonable, tax paying members of society don't love it . Grow up, it isn't all about you and your likes and dislikes.

Why? | 4:08 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

Why do soccer players fake seizures and then get up and play again? Why?

Tie games, low scoring, fake injuries and low ticket sales. Enjoy.

Just make sure you pay back the $100 million dollars for the stadium that will be empty in five years.

My kids are doing fine and I'm a former college athlete. So, at least that arguement doesn't apply to me in this case.

My Bad | 4:14 p.m. Oct. 1, 2008

I said the Forbes article indicated RSL would have $20.3 million profit in 2009. It is revenue, not profit. Sorry.

The numbers still look good. RSL is currently breaking even. With the new stadium, it will make RSL profitable. That is in 5 years -- pretty decent investment.

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