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SALT LAKE CITY -- Seven years after voters first approved a $15 million bond, soccer supporters formally launched construction for a new sports complex near Salt Lake International Airport.
A Friday kickoff event marked a major milestone for both the future Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex and soccer's rise to prominence in Utah.
City and county officials along with Real Salt Lake players and financial donors kicked ceremonial gold soccer balls into a net at the site, located at 2199 North and 1912 West, to commemorate the occasion.
In 2003, voters passed a $15 million bond for construction, contingent on $7.5 million from private sources, a sum pro club Real Salt Lake donated in 2007. Now, after years of hurdles and headaches, construction is ready to begin.
The proposal faced opposition from individuals over environmental concerns, as the land for the complex borders the Jordan River and is considered open space.
As recently as Wednesday, the Jordan River Restoration Network futilely petitioned a 3rd District judge to halt construction on the project, saying it will devastate migratory bird habitat and violate flood-plain rules.
The network's coordinator, Jeff Salt, said it is not ready to give up. "I think it's premature. The city still has not received their Army Corps of Engineers wetland fill permit and that's essential before they can move forward with construction. Meantime, our zoning appeal is still pending," Salt said.
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker thinks the project balances the needs for athletic facilities with river habitat restoration.
"There's no doubt in my mind given the ferocity of the opponents to this project they'll continue to try to challenge it in every way they can. We'll be respectful of that," he said.
"Our decisions have been made and subject to judicial review, and we'll keep moving forward," Becker added.
Current design plans for phase one of the complex include 15 competition-quality soccer fields, one championship field, seven lighted fields, more than 600 trees, administration and maintenance facilities, and a Nature Preserve along the riparian corridor of the Jordan River.
Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts, who last year celebrated the team's first championship, said the new complex will be an extraordinary facility when completed. He anticipates it will provide a huge boost for the sport.
"I do believe that we will have kids playing for Real Salt Lake that have grown up here in the not too distant future," Checketts said.
The city expects the project to be completed by fall 2011.
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Story written with contributions from John Daley and Molly Farmer.
