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Real Salt Lake: New era begins today

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Go RSL!!! | 1:56 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
The day is finally here. We need this game big time, so hopefully the team is ready to light up Chicago on ESPN2. The Stadium is built, all the suites are sold out, naming rights for the stadium are in place (Rio Tinto), Sell out crowd... now we just need to get the win and keep control over our playoff destiny.

All the soccer haters and people who doubted, put your fist into your mouth and be quite.

Go RSL!!!!
Full90 | 5:28 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
It seems wrong to make anyone work on a day like today; productivity will be nil, with everyone looking to knock off by 3pm to get to the stadium. Huntsman really should have thought about declaring a state holiday.
A day in history | 7:30 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
I agree with Full90, I'm not going to get anything done today. Let's take it to them and get the win. Let's make it loud (Toronto what?). After all you'll be telling your grandkids about this.

See you at the Rio.
Comments continue below
TO: Go RSL!!! | 7:41 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Wait until you try to get 20,000 people to a 3:00 game time. Hopefully you'll get to your seat before 7:00.

I'm not a soccer hater but RSL Stadium was deemed "not good for the public interest" by Mayor Corroon until the GOP leadership forgot they were conservative and built it anyway as a favor for Checketts.

I'll be more interested in the traffic report and avoiding Sandy today than the game.

Sorry to burst your bubble but traffic will be the story today, not the game.
yes! | 8:18 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Soccer haters, you lose.
soccernut | 8:25 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Go RSL!
I wish that I could be there, oh well, I will be cheering them on from across the country on ESPN2.
I am hoping for a great game in that beautiful new stadium.
Go RSL!
Question | 9:01 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Has the game sold out yet?

Big Fan | 9:04 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
The new stadium is awesome! This should be a great place to take our families for years to come. I'm glad that this new stadium adds more diversity to our community. Basketball and football are great but soccer is a fastastic sport with an international flavor that we really need around here.
Utah Rose | 9:05 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Thanks for warning me about the game. All of the Sandy residents who live nearby will hear the noise. I will be sure to avoid driving around State Street as the traffic will be a mess. I am definitely not a soccer fan and not a fan of again clearing off land to build a monstrosity. With this economy and a failing team, wonder how they will make ends meet,

And if you think there are enough parking spaces available, think again. This should have stayed at the U where it belonged.
Happy Holidays! | 9:24 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Santa has come early. RTS is just what I wanted!
Go RSL!!!
DAN | 9:32 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
See you in section N! GOATS ON THE LEFT!
V Sage | 9:35 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
re: Full90 | 5:28 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Your kidding right?

re; Question | 9:01 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

Better question will it even be half full?

Golf < Soccer < Basketball < Tiddleywinks < World series of poker.

Who cares? It's American football season.
pah | 9:41 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
a "new era" indeed. we'll see how long they last. I give them three seasons. One strong opener, two limping along, and three failing miserably. they'll never be able to pull their own weight.
Soccer haters | 9:45 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
We are still here and we don't lose. It's the taxpayers that lose. Eventually RSL will be gone because in the end nobody likes Minor League Soccer. We all know the real MLS is in Europe.
It's Time! | 10:02 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
utah Rose, there's gonna be gameday traffic, and I LOVE IT!!! tell me a sport where there isn't traffic? What a lame thing to say.

Tonight is gonna be a memorable experience, and it just adds to the excitement knowing how important this game is for our playoff hopes. GO RSL!

Soccer Haters, keep talking all you want, cause I'm gonna be sitting in Rio Tinto tonight laughing at you. HA HA!
High School Football | 10:09 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
I look forward to watching High School State football games in Rio Taco stadium for years to come. I'm glad we spend $160 million for a high school football stadium.

RSL will be a thing of the past in three years.
Cancel Christmas | 10:15 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Is there a new holiday in Utah? I know my family is going to cancel Christmas this year. Yeahaw!!! I hope the Office is good today so the soccer haters at least have something to watch while we are all having fun!!
Re: Utah Rose | 10:19 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
HHHHAAAAAAAAAAA HHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! It's here, it's a reality and it's sold out. Where did you get the info on a failing team? You cited the stadium, a sure indicator of a team on the up. Regarding parking: get there a little early or take TRAX. Traffic shouldn't bother you because you'll easily be in bed before the game starts at 8pm, sipping on warm milk.
Re: Utah Rose | 10:28 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Haha you won't be sleeping tonight. RSL is here to stay, no one cares about you not being a soccer fan. I laugh at your future sleepless nights from all the noise and traffic from the RSL games...thats how it should be baby! Boo hoo for you, write your congressman. Write your governor or congressman. Although they may be too busy partying at the game with the other 20,000 tonight and future nights.
Soccer Guy | 10:41 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Every rose has it's thorn. GO RSL!
I'm ready | 10:41 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
I have the batteries for my camera charging and I plan on leaving early from work. I'm gonna ride trax and try and get there at 7 to take myself on a tour of the stadium. I can not wait. I hope we make it as loud as we make the ESA let's let everyone watching on ESPN2 know that Utah always has great homefield advantage because of us the FANS. GOOOOOOOOOO REAL! SALT! LAKE!
Re: Utah Rose | 10:44 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
A few thorns on this rose! bitter, bitter, bitter...
Plenty of parking.... | 10:45 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
You can park at my house. Glass half full rose...living that close, you could make a profit. Or you could continue whining about such a beatiful stadium.

I hope we annoy the crap out of you tonight. :)
re:Utah Rose | 10:49 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
So your worried about the economy, your in the wrong blog. Your probably a tree hugger, by the name of the title, go hug a tree somewhere else.
GameGuy | 11:32 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
20,000 seats...I thought the RSL was a major league team or is the stadium just not finished yet?
I'm laughing last | 11:35 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
re: It's Time! | 10:02 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

>>Soccer Haters, keep talking all you want, cause I'm gonna be sitting in Rio Tinto tonight laughing at you. HA HA!<<

No. It is I who will be laughing at you. You will be wasting $ and shivering not laughing while I'm sitting in a climate controlled environment (home) watching American sports... the college game on ESPN & the baseball playoffs.
giant burrito fan | 11:36 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008
re: A day in history | 7:30 a.m. Oct. 9, 2008

>>See you at the Rio.<<

Which one? Though, I prefer Barbacoa.
complain all you want now | 12:05 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
soccer haters, you obviously are the most ignorant group of people in utah. RSL is here to stay, MLS is growing leaps and bounds every year and soccer is the greatest sport on earth. so stay home tonight, sit and pout about the money you wont lose since you didnt pay a single dime for this thing. we dont need you.

btw, the stadium did NOT cost 160 million. it cost 110, only of which 35 came from tourists.

GO RSL!!!
It will be full... | 12:12 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
There are more soccer players per capita in Utah than any place in America,,No problem they will sell tickets. If you don't like it don't go. There are plenty of other things going on around town besides the soccer game..
Can't wait | 1:05 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
It's here at last. I'm so stoked! It's going to be awesome. Go RSL!
Anonymous | 1:08 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
What a great opprotunity for our youth, families and all of us to have a real soccer stadium, rock concerts, sports, GREAT!!!

Soccer haters, RSL is here... TO STAY!!!

GO RSL!!! GO SOCCER!!! (EXCUSE ME: FOOTBALL "THE REAL ONE")
Roll Call | 1:10 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
We need a roll call like the Yankee's do.... We keep chanting the players name until they acknowledge the crowd. Then we go through every player... Let's get loud tonight. GO RSL!!! Yo baby yo baby yo baby yo.

Soccer haters you loose!
haters | 1:21 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
really, no one cares if you dont like this sport. it seems like 3-4 years ago people were saying "i give em 3-4 years and then they'll be gone". well, its weird because now, 3-4 years later, they are saying the same thing. we've just built a multi-million dollar stadium, the league is expanding, people come from out of state to see games. if you dont like soccer then thats fine, but really, give it up.
So excited... | 1:25 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
for tonight. RSL and the MLS are here to stay!!! Playoffs, here we come.
GOOD LUCK REAL | 1:31 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Good luck to REAL, they will need it! Hopefully they will have better success than predicted. I still think the stadium is great but is built in a not so great place (too much congestion). Hopefully they can make the best of a bad situation. Go REAL!
Question | 1:31 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
If this is such a huge event, why did it take until noon today to sell out the game?
GO RSL! | 1:42 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Alright! It is finally here! Can't wait! See ya there!
Atmosphere | 1:43 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Let's get the atmposhere going before the game starts so when the boys come out they feel inspired just a little more.
Come on RSL fans
WE ARE THE 12TH MAN!!!
there is lot of misinformation | 1:46 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
printed here, in the article as well as the message board. RSL is HURTING, badly right now. They are scrambling to make it look really good. But the reality is, those suites aren't sold out, they've been given it away, steeply discounted, and/or sweetened up the deal so that everything looks good and they can save face. Same with a ton of the regular tickets. The game tonight is not sold out either, not even close. I don't know where you're all getting your information, but I'm getting mine from the inside. There is no sellout, as of 1:46 PM today, and no projected sellout.
This is going to be a miserable, and embarrassing, failure for checketts and co. For those of you who want to call me bitter, fine. Then take it for what you want. But just because an inevitable failure of a stadium has been built for RSL does not mean they are here to stay. If they don't make enough money during this failing economy (also inevitable), they are gone. It's only a matter of time.
who is full90? | 1:50 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Was that comment serious? You think people are going to be all antsy in their pants about the game all day? And a STATE HOLIDAY??? Or was that sarcastic? It's such a hilarious thing to say, I honestly couldn't tell.
re:Roll Call | 1:58 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
I like this idea. Hopefully the supporters groups will hand out some papers with the words to some chants and songs as well.

GO RSL!
Someone answer this | 2:00 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
What is it that drives some peoples hostile attitude towards this sport and its growth in utah? Why do we fight against a sports team like this when other cities are clamouring all over themselves to get something similar? RSL was going to move to St. Louis, why did they want the team and we didn't. There are a number of cities that are trying to get an MLS franchise but there are only a few expansion teams available, and this despite the fact that the price for a new team has tripled since RSL started. Why is it that some cities like Toronto and Seattle have sold 10,000 to 16,000 season tickets before the first game is even played yet after four years here, people are still trying to drive it away? Why do we push something like this away when other places only wish they could get it? Anyone remember how angry some people were that the olympics were coming to utah? I sure do. Looking back, i think most people would agree that the olympics were a pretty good thing for our state. Seems like the same situation yet people are still complaining. Why?
Re: pah | 2:05 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
"I give them three seasons."

Ok. total = 3

1 "One strong opener,"
2 "two limping along,"
+ 3 "and three failing miserably."
---
6

6 != 3
Haters tend to be inaccurate - even at 1st grade math.

Go RSL!

Welcome | 2:13 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Welcome to The Mine Field!

Its going to be a BLAST!
Haters II | 2:19 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008

haters | 1:21 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
really, no one cares if you dont like this sport. it seems like 3-4 years ago people were saying "i give em 3-4 years and then they'll be gone". well, its weird because now, 3-4 years later, they are saying the same thing. we've just built a multi-million dollar stadium, the league is expanding, people come from out of state to see games. if you don't like soccer then thats fine, but really, give it up.
------------------------------------

I've been following MLS since it was first formed as a business FIFTEEN years ago, and the rubes have constantly predicted its demise. These guys are just the last fools left in that room.

It's a bloody miracle. No league has survived and risen above as much cynicism and resentment as MLS.
# 12 (Born in Soccer Land) | 2:22 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Time is here, we have to be ready tonight to show the referee to be fair and not to call wrong against our team. Kudos to Andy, sorry he won�t be shaking the nets tonight. And hope Kreis starts being more vocal during the game especially when having wrong calls and giving directions to his players.
Well, we the player # 12, need to be there chanting and supporting our RSL louder than ever! Take your noisemakers and trumpets See you tonight!! Vamos RSL! GO, GO RSL!!!!
And to those against Real Football, we understand your frustration discovering that the game you like is handball,not football!
re: #12 | 2:45 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
If your game is the real football, why are such a large percetage of goals scored on headers?
Boring!!! | 4:38 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
#12 | 5:08 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Read the rules. You can also make a goal with your chest or your knees not with your hands.
A little math | 5:48 p.m. Oct. 9, 2008
Okay; the stadium seats 20,000, right? So assuming a sold-out game with an average ticket price of $20, RSL is getting about $400,000 per game. Multiply that by nineteen home games per season = $7,600,000 per year.

So, basically, it would take ten years of sold-out games to pay for this thing. Fourteen and a half, if you didn't count the gift from your out-of-state family members who couldn't stay in your house on their visit. (What, you think out-of-staters come to SANDY on their vacations?) And that's assuming that the entire price of a ticket can be devoted to paying off the construction loan for the stadium without being diverted to maintenance, player salaries, gear, travel expenses, and the like.

I assume that some bright young fellows in RSL Corporate ran the numbers and really believe that they can turn a profit. But I'll be danged if I can figure out how they made it all work.

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