Reader comments
West Valley, Grizz say they'll score with arena bailout

Anonymous | 7:47 a.m. April 9, 2009

WVC leaders should all be impeached. Spending $600,000 of taxpayer money to bailout a minor league hockey team? Who cares about hockey? It's why the team should fold and go away.

Apples to apples | 7:56 a.m. April 9, 2009

Hockey is more viable in the US than soccer so if municipalities are going to give out corporate welfare this makes more sense than funding RSL.

Get informed | 8:18 a.m. April 9, 2009

Apples to apples,

First off, not a single penny of taxpayer money went to RSL. All the county did was buy land for the stadium which is being leased back to RSL.....exactly what SLC did for Jazz and their arena.

Second, minor league hockey is not remotely close to being more viable than major league soccer. RSL draws an average of 15k.....that's THREE TIMES what the Grizzliezz draw.

My advice: Next time, get informed before you pop off.

Comments continue below

Location, Location, Location | 8:19 a.m. April 9, 2009

So a City like West Valley with a disproportionate migrant community (who are raised on, and passionate about Soccer) get an Ice Hockey Arena. Meanwhile the Nordic East Side types get a soccer stadium in Sandy. Hmmm, NASA must be missing a few rocket scientists.

J Crunch | 8:22 a.m. April 9, 2009

Hockey may be more viable in some cities in the US (the Northeast comes to mind), but I would argue it is definitely NOT more viable than soccer in Salt Lake City.

re: apples to apples | 8:45 a.m. April 9, 2009

Have you been living in a bubble? Soccer has proved to be very viable. There are soccer specific stadiums all over the league and teams make money once they have control over their stadiums. Plus the "tax payer" money that was used was for infrastructure and not for ownership in the team and it comes from the tranient room tax. Most Utans don't stay in hotels in Utah so you probably haven't contributed a cent.

Look at the new expansion franchise in Seattle. They have sold out their first to home matches with over 25,000 in attendence as well as over 20,000 season tickets.

There are new franchises that are lining up to be a part of MLS.

RSL appears to be on its way to being a profitable frnanchise this year. Plus it is going to bring in lots of outsiders with the MLS All-Star game in July and the World Cup qualifer in the fall and another women's game to be played in the stadium.

Re: Apples to Apples | 8:50 a.m. April 9, 2009

Are you crazy? Hockey has seen its heyday and is on the decline. That's why hockey teams are folding while MLS is expanding.

Makes sense | 10:43 a.m. April 9, 2009

If you ask me, the only way WVC was going to get ANY of the 600k owed them was to assume the 40% ownership. If they hadn't agreed to this, the Grizzlies simply would have folded, filed bankruptcy and WVC would have just been out the $$. Ownership is not ideal, but it beats the alternative.

Anonymous | 10:55 a.m. April 9, 2009

I think some commentors here didn't read the article. If WVC didn't take an ownership interest in the team, the team would probably end up moving. Sure, they would eventually get back their $600,000, but would lose 33% of the revenue made off the E-Center. I'm sure that 33% of the yearly revenue is much more than $600,000. Plus, the team is still having to pay the money back anyway.

money | 11:06 a.m. April 9, 2009

what does a good seat cost at a RSL game? I dont know. I can take the family to a Grizzlies game for 25 bucks and get prime seats. I really have my doubts that I can do that at RSL. Plus I still afford to put 2 boys in county hockey and select teams. Try that soccor mom. A ball a net I wish hockey was that cheap! But then again I dont. But thats just the rebel in me. If you know what i mean.

Hockey fangirl | 11:30 a.m. April 9, 2009

The Grizzlies make for a great night out. Hockey is more exciting than basketball, soccer or baseball. It is also a cheaper ticket than any of the above. You can sit practically rinkside for 18 bucks at a Grizzlies game. They just need more advertising, in my opinion. People forget we have a great sports team that plays at the E-Center. WVC may not make their money back, but then again, who ever cares about us on the West side anyway? Hopefully with the Day's of 47 Rodeo moving out to the E-Center they will make some extra cash anyway

three11stu | 12:15 p.m. April 9, 2009

I recently went to a grizzlies game. Being a fan of the NHL, I don't think that I could call them a great team. The product on the ice is pretty poor. However, I enjoy going to games, and I hope that I can make it to a playoff game this year.
I am also a season ticket holder for Real Salt Lake. I personally don't know what they have to do at all with this article. The teams are here, the stadiums are here. If they go away, we just lose money. Think of the money that will be brought in this summer for RSL.
I hope the best for the grizzlies, and having gone to both teams this year, more people support RSL then the grizz, but who cares.

Mike W | 3:08 p.m. April 9, 2009

Well, first, you can't compare the Grizzlies and RSL... the Grizzlies have been here nearly 15 years and RSL 2 or 3? They're still in the "honeymoon" phase like the Grizzlies went thru a decade ago when their attendance was much higher and popularity was much higher. The Grizzlies also won a title, something RSL hasn't even come close to yet. RSL's attendance has also been spiked in the early years by "freebies" to enhance popularity.

I think this is going to be win/win for the Grizzlies and West Valley, the city would have been far worse off if they had left. It's tough to market an ECHL team because turnover is so high, you can't get familiar with your players (not that I can name anyone on RSL either!). I do think Grizz prices are a bit too high, but the excitement is FAR MORE than soccer, or baseball for that matter.

Anonymous | 3:36 p.m. April 9, 2009

Sorry, for me its hockey over soccer. Thanks WVC for working out a deal to keep hockey in Salt Lake.

re: re: apples to apples | 4:12 p.m. April 9, 2009

If soccer is so viable in the US why was RSL's opening game attendance down 42% from last year? Investing in MLS is a total waste of money.

Dave | 8:33 p.m. April 9, 2009

If WVC now owns 40% of the team, aren't we now "on the hook" for 40% of the salaries? If they don't pay for salaries with seats, are they going back into the cities' funds to come up with expenses?

the love of sports | 7:30 p.m. April 10, 2009

If the WVC did not buy the Grizzlies. The grizzlies would of probably folded or sold then what would they do with the olympic ice rink. ( have it just sit there). People out of a job. It is nice to have the option to go to any type of sport here in Utah. Whether it be soccer, baseball, hockey OR even the Jazz. Utah does need some type of night life or something to do besides ski. Nobody metioned the JAZZ. Just grizzlies and RSL. Nice to see the city bail someone out instead of put some place where we do not see it.

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