Fairpark stadium 'absolutely dead,' Monarchs president says


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SALT LAKE CITY — The president of Salt Lake City's newest soccer franchise said a recent proposal to build a minor league stadium at the Utah State Fairpark was "absolutely dead" from Real Salt Lake's perspective.

Real Monarchs President Rob Zarkos told KSL NewsRadio's Doug Wright that the decision by RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen to rescind the option to build an $18 million stadium at the Utah State Fairgrounds leaves the club looking for a new place to call home following the 2015 season.

The recision of the offer was made primarily for political reasons, including the Utah Legislature's doubts of the Fairpark's long-term viability.

"We knew that the Fairpark might have some issues to deal with, but we were going to let (the Fairpark's executives) take over on that," Zarkos said. "We have nothing but gratitude to them.

"From the onset, we were told to lobby and call people. But we wanted this to stand on its merits, as a regeneration of the Fairpark."

Zarkos went so far as to call the deal "absolutely dead" from RSL's perspective. But he added that won't leave the Monarchs in the cold.

"We are aggressively pursuing other options," Zarkos said. "Once the news started about how political it's got, we were approached by multiple parties. We are aggressively looking at everything, and we hope to keep it in the value. But we don't have anything locked up."

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The Monarchs will play their 28-game inaugural season, which begins in March, in the third-division United Soccer Leagues at Rio Tinto Stadium, but a decision on the club's long-term venue remains a question. Hansen told the Fairpark administrators that his January proposal, which would have included grounds for a pro lacrosse, rugby and women's soccer franchise, was no longer available to the venue.

Hansen was seeking a 40-year extension to the Fairpark's lease. The current lease is due to expire in 2017, leaving the future of the Utah State Fair in question.

The club will now begin anew its search for suitable development space for the new stadium. While Zarkos reiterated the club's desire to keep that location within the Salt Lake Valley, he also said there were several options available to the organization.

"The timing just didn't work for us," he added. "We have requirements from the league … and needed to move forward."

Hansen's proposal included the entire cost of construction on the stadium, and the real estate investor went so far as to sign a term sheet only contingent on the extension of the fairgrounds' current lease.

The initial proposal guaranteed $3.3 million over 20 years for lease of the space at the Fairpark and half the net parking revenues for games played by the Monarchs. The Fairpark would have also been allowed to use the stadium for a guaranteed three-week spell every year, including guarantees on parking. The proposal was originally intended to expire on April 23 before Hansen's recision.

The Monarchs will announce their roster next week during a series of fan events, and Zarkos said the on-field talent of their team taking shape should surprise a lot of people.

"In soccer, the difference isn't always skill but bringing it on a consistent basis. Some of our reserve guys are amazing soccer players, so the level of our side is going to be amazing," he said. "But the key is the synergy to our staff and being able to move (players) up and down. We have one of the best systems in all of MLS, from our academy to our first team."

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