Legislators Working to Keep ReAL Salt Lake in Utah

Andrew Adams/John Daley ReportingOne top lawmaker today says he thinks the chances are better than 50-50 that Real Salt Lake will stay in Utah.

His comments came just after House lawmakers passed a bill which could take millions in County taxpayer money to help fund a new soccer stadium.

John Valentine (R), Senate President: "It's still very fluid, but Sandy and the fair park are both on the table. Both are options that could be used. There are various different options on both the Sandy site and fair park site. Those are things we're trying to get together at this time between the Governor, the speaker, and myself."

Things are extremely fluid on this on-going story. But, it's clear that the wheels are in motion on Capitol Hill to keep the team here, and for a stadium to be built either in Sandy or at the Utah State Fair Park.

The big question is: exactly how will things get done?

This morning, House Republicans passed House Bill 38 which would allow the state to take more than 26 million dollars over the next decade and put it into a state-controlled fund.

Even Governor Jon Huntsman is optimistic something can be worked out.

The governor says a soccer stadium wouldn't be the first project the state has subsidized. So, he says, why not do the same with House Bill 38? It's been amended to take 26-million transient room-tax dollars from Salt Lake County, and put them in a state fund. From there, the money would be funneled toward a stadium project.

Sources tell KSL Radio Nightside Project's Ethan Millard a deal will happen, and the stadium will wind up in Sandy, not Salt Lake.

John Valentine (R), Senate President: "I think we're better than a 50-50 chance we're going to keep the team here in Utah."

Related topics