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Alex Cabrero reportingMany thought it was a dead deal, but now ReAL Salt Lake just might get a new stadium in Sandy after all, keeping the team in Utah.
Peter Corroon, Mayor of Salt Lake County: "Salt Lake County has presented a proposal that I hope will satisfy ReAL Salt Lake, the city of Sandy, and the State of Utah."
The Salt Lake County Council now has enough votes to pass their latest proposal to the team. Now ReAL Salt Lake just had to accept it. It comes a day before owner Dave Checketts' deadline to sell the team.
It's no coincidence that the big game against Real Madrid is tomorrow. That excitement, mixed with the deadline, helped bring a lot of people to the table to get something done fast.
Tom Dolan, Mayor of Sandy: "I've felt like an expectant father today. I don't remember this since the last time i had a child."
With a ReAL Salt Lake scarf hanging in his office, there's no doubt what side Sandy mayor Tom Dolan was on. He's been pushing for the new stadium to be built in his city. Now, it just might happen.
Tom Dolan, Mayor of Sandy: "To have a major league soccer stadium in our community is a positive thing."
For a long time though, the Salt Lake County council wasn't so sure.
They've voted down several proposal's, saying the money just wasn't there to help build a stadium. The last vote was 5-4.
This time, with a new proposal, councilwoman Jenny Wilson went from her no vote to a yes vote, swinging the entire deal.
Jenny Wilson, Member, Salt Lake County Council: "We had received a revenue stream for parking in Sandy that's right next to the stadium."
She's talking about a parking garage that was slated for the SouthTowne Expo Center. Now, that money can instead be used to build parking right next to the proposed stadium, benefiting ReAL and the Expo Center.
Jenny Wilson, Member, Salt Lake County Council: "That changed the financial situation enormously."
The new proposal would cost Salt Lake County 20-million dollars for parking and related infrastructure. The County will also pay 10-million in 2010 and 2015, using the transient room tax. ReAL Salt Lake will give 7 and a half million to Salt Lake City to build a soccer complex voters agreed on 3 years ago. ReAL would have to stay here for 30 years, or pay 10-million dollars to the county.
Peter Corroon, Mayor of Salt Lake County: "I believe it is a plan that is feasible and protects the interests of the citizens of salt lake county."
Not everyone on the council agrees. Jim Bradley says he'll still vote no, saying he thinks the proposal is about real estate and not soccer.
Jim Bradley, Member, Salt Lake County Council: "I'm not sure a public body, like Salt Lake County, ought to be using tax dollars, even if they are incremental dollars from future development, to help a businessman make money in a retail development."
Now, it's up to REAL Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts to say yes or no to the proposal.
Tomorrow's big game would be the perfect time to make an even bigger announcement. Real Madrid plays Real Salt Lake tomorrow night at 7 at Rice-Eccles stadium. You can watch the game live right here on KSL TV.
