Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Amanda Butterfield ReportingThe ReAL deal is a done deal. Salt Lake County approved a plan Tuesday night to fund a new Sandy soccer stadium, in part, with millions of dollars in taxpayer money. The agreement on the final details ends days of negotiations and questions about if the deal would get done.
Council members say they discussed this issue more than any previous issue. Tuesday night they decided to move forward.
ReAL Fan: "I'm thrilled. I've been to all three of the meetings they've had here, and finally, a good result out of this thing is very happy."
After nearly three hours, five council members agreed, this latest proposal for a soccer stadium in Sandy is the right thing.
Jenny Wilson, member, Salt Lake County Council: "There is no risk to the county. It produces revenue. The community benefits through soccer club expansion and programs."
Peter Corroon, Mayor of Salt Lake County: "And even if the team fails or leaves, I think the county still will have benefited."
Here's how the $55 million stadium will be paid for. The city will pay $15 million from its redevelopment agency. The team will share a $20 million parking garage with the South Towne Expo Center, which the county will own. And the county will issue two $10 million bonds, one in 2011, the other in 2015, from TRT revenue.
Randy Horiuchi, Member, Salt Lake County Council: "93 percent of it paid for by residents outside of Salt Lake County. And for people here to say this evening, that oh, our tax dollars are being wasteful, in terms of our soccer program all these other great amenities that we're going to get for it, are truly demagogic."
Dave Checketts, Owner, ReAL Salt Lake: "I wish that this were possible to do just on a private basis, but it doesn't work in any American city without a public/private partnership."
Not everyone is convinced. Four of the council members thought too many questions were still unanswered. But majority rules and the stadium will be built, starting this October.
Dave Checketts: "We have to be because we have to play there in 2008.
This is a road map, a letter of intent, as the Mayor called it, a letter of intent. We may still see a few adjustments, but nothing major.
