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Tuesday's vote by the Salt Lake County Council against public funding of a soccer stadium in Sandy should not be interpreted as a vote against REAL Salt Lake, the team.
It's not surprising that the soccer club's executives are "disappointed" at the decision, and it's understandable that talk is surfacing about possibly moving the team to another state. From a business perspective, they would be remiss not to explore their options.
Still, KSL encourages them to focus on finding a way to stay in Utah.
For example, the Utah State Fairpark option being pushed by Mayor Rocky Anderson deserves full, unbiased evaluation. And who knows what ideas might surface through candid public discussion rather than backroom wheeling and dealing.
The fan base REAL executives touted in bringing the team here in the first place hasn't changed and is likely to grow. Soccer remains the world's most popular sport and is consistently gaining popularity in the United States. As evidence, look at the attention given recent World Cup games. And Utah soccer fans have demonstrated their support for the team through their purchase of tickets.
In KSL's view, it is important to find a way to keep REAL Salt Lake in Utah. The franchise is a visible asset that benefits the entire state.
