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John Daley ReportingThree days after a groundbreaking for a new ReAL Salt Lake stadium, Salt Lake County leaders are expected to officially endorse the deal this afternoon. Details of the deal are still being finalized.
The two sides are still working on the fine print, but we're told the larger elements of this deal are still very much in place, and the county council is meeting to vote on it this evening.
Taxpayers would provide $55 million in public subsidies for the Sandy stadium -- 20 million from hotel room taxes, 15 million from Sandy's redevelopment agency, and a 20 million dollar parking garage to be shared with the South Towne Expo Center, which the county will own.
The county mayor and key council members think this is a good deal because the county doesn't put any new money into the project for at least five years, and if the franchise fails,the team would owe the county 10 million dollars and the county would still own the land.
The deal has come back from near death, but some county leaders say they aren't happy with the public process involved here.
Peter Corroon, Salt Lake County Mayor: "I have to say frankly the process has not been a good one. There's been insults, miscommunication, non-communication, some threats. But frankly, we're here. It's a good deal and I feel comfortable with it."
Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake County Council Member: "I think the process has been terrible. Today, I frankly had to set that aside and go with what we had on paper, process through whether or not this is a good deal for county taxpayers."
It's expected to take more than a year to build the new stadium at near 90th South and State Street. The team will play at Rice-Eccles next year and then plans to have the stadium ready for play in 2008.
Today's vote is not the final hurdle for this project, but it's clearly a big one.
