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Click Here to view the statement from ReAL Salt LakeJohn Daley reporting
Salt Lake County has shot down millions in funding for a new pro-soccer stadium and mega-development in Sandy. County councilors rejected a proposal to use hotel taxes for the project.
This issue has been a real political football and the vote was a bit of a surprise by the narrowest of margins, 5-4. The result essentially means game over on this project, for now, and Real Salt Lake and Sandy City will have to go back to the drawing board.
On Sunday, the world's biggest sporting event was decided in nail-biting, dramatic fashion in a penalty kick shootout. Today, in packed county council chambers, the political equivalent.
On hand were soccer fans, ReAL soccer officials and a whose who of power players, including a quartet of former and current mayors.
The mayor of Salt Lake, snubbed earlier, says the current deal should "go down in flames.".
Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake City Mayor: "This matter should be determined on the merits. Backroom deals, power politics should not control the result. And so far, that's the way this thing has gone and everybody knows it."
Sandy's Tom Dolan is looking for $30 million in hotel tax money to build the new stadium as part a $650 million dollar mega-development in his town.
Political observers suggest that request would have easily been approved if his old GOP ally and former county mayor Nancy Workman, now with the Sandy Chamber, were still in charge.
Instead, Democrat Peter Corroon is now minding the store and says he loves soccer, but thinks the numbers still don't work.
Peter Corroon, (D) Salt Lake County Mayor: "The bottom line is the project still doesn't work for Salt Lake County."
The proposal splits both parties and the council with proponents pushing economic development.
Randy Horiuchi, (D) Salt Lake County Member: "The fact of the matter is the decision when you want to be a major world class destination, you have to have some responsibility for it and you have to do it."
That, while opponents are urging caution, or hinting about the political behind the deal, clearly the creation of Sandy's powerful mayor and House Speaker Greg Curtis, also from Sandy.
When the votes come in, the nay's have it.
Dave Wilde: "I think we can come to a proposal that a majority of this council feel good about, that the mayor feels good about, and that the Sandy people feel good about. And until we're at that point, I have to say no right now."
Tom Dolan, (R) Sandy Mayor: "Is the whole deal dead? As far as I'm concerned, yes. Does that mean you're not going to try again? No. You're bowing out completely, no stadium in Sandy? No. Because the council voted and we got their vote. Been working on this for a year and they voted no, so it's no." Q- You're not one to give up that easily. "Well, there's other ways to get money. Go back to the legislature."
ReAL Salt Lake today said this was a setback and that the decision puts the future of the club in serious jeopardy.
Now it's important to note that polls have shown the public is reluctant about public funding, and three county council members are up for reelection in the fall.
Two are Democrats, they split -- Joe Hatch voting in favor, Jim Bradley opposed. The swing vote was Murray Republican David Wilde, he voted against the project.
