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John Daley ReportingMadison Shupe, Fan, Logan: "I think it's like, really good because we'll have more chances to, like, see them play."
Frank Zubal, Fan, Sandy: "I think it is absolutely awesome. It's the greatest thing for the state."
It's been a big day for pro soccer in Utah as the hometown team hosts its most famous out of town visitors just hours after the official ceremony for a new stadium, with one very special guest.
One of the world's marquee sports franchises made its Utah debut before a packed house tonight; this, on the same day its hosts christened a new home. Today's milestone comes after months of uncertainty.
Just yesterday Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts told us he was ready to sell the team without a stadium deal. 24 hours later the team held a groundbreaking, attended by soccer superstar David Beckham.
Tonight Beckham and his Real Madrid mates played an entertaining game, the kind of exclamation point the team was looking for.
Fans arrived at Rice-Eccles stadium to a festival atmosphere complete with Brazilians, Beckham groupies, unofficial ticket sellers getting a hundred dollars a pop, and even out-of-towners, like a ReAL Madrid fan from Denver in Utah for the first time.
William Rivas, Soccer Fan, Denver: "I follow all the team. Beckham and Robinho, all of them, all the guys there."
Albert Bauman, Soccer Fan, Taylorsville: (Question: are you excited about this?) "You bet I am. This is my life."
It's that kind of excitement ReAL Salt Lake is counting on to help fill its new stadium in Sandy, which scored with a shovel from the world superstar David Beckham.
Rob Enger, REAL Fan: "Soccer is huge everywhere else. It's going to get a lot bigger here, and I'm just glad to be a part of it."
Mayor Rocky Anderson: "This is a great deal, and now there are opportunities we can take advantage of."
Tom Dolan, Mayor of Sandy: "I think Salt Lake County went through 19 renditions of the proposal. We went through about 12."
Not everyone is happy about the deal, including some on KSL's Internet comment board. Bif B. writes, "Not 1 dime of taxpayer (my money) ought to go for this." And Ryan G. says, "just another waste of tax money. They should have had the public vote on it."
But at the ReAL Madrid game, fans say they're convinced the team will survive and thrive, and with big events like this, be a plus for the community.
Karl Shupe, Soccer Fan, Logan: "I think it's exciting really. I think we ought to be able to support it and try to bring in some of these teams. I think it's just going to help the whole community, the whole state really."
Frank Zubal, Soccer Fan, Sandy Resident: (Question: As taxpayer you feel comfortable that this is a good deal for taxpayers?) "I think so."
Spencer Zubal, Soccer Fan, Sandy: "It helps having such big stars. That puts an exclamation point on building a stadium."
Of course, ReAL Salt Lake will play at Rice Eccles stadium again next year, then the plan is to have the new facility built and ready to go for the 2008 season.
