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John Daley reportingThe owner of Utah's pro soccer franchise says his team is here to stay, and he is confident they will work out the public funding to make it happen.
ReAL Salt Lake Owner Dave Checketts held a press conference Saturday afternoon, to answer questions after Salt Lake County pulled the plug on 35 million dollars worth of public funding for a pro soccer stadium.
Dave Checketts described the decision by Salt Lake County as a "Bump in the road" that would be overcome. He reiterated his confidence that the project will be built in Sandy. He said that he has $100 million lined up in private funding, and 20-arces of land in Sandy already purchased.
Checketts believes that the team, with the help of the Salt Lake County Mayor, the Governor and other elected officials, will be able to work out a solution.
Dave Checketts, Owner, ReAL Salt Lake: "We are a long, long, long, long, long way from throwing in the towel on ReAL Salt Lake, or it's existence here. It's not easy. It's always complicated in many situations where I have had to turn around teams before. But I have never had to invent at team. And 16 months ago we invented a team. And I think we have come a long, long way. And I am very bullish about our future."
Checketts was asked if there was any other stadium option he was considering at this point, including keep the team at Rice Eccles Stadium. He said no, Sandy was the place.
He was also asked whether construction would start this year. He says that has always been the plan, though he needs work the funding out.
Checketts also mentioned 7.5 million dollars in private funds for a soccer complex that is to be build by the airport. He said the team is committing that money to Salt Lake City.
