KSL Newsradio this morning is reporting that plans to build a soccer stadium in Salt Lake County are dead.
KSL's Doug Wright spoke with Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts this morning. Checketts says based on a phone conversation he had with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, Real Salt Lake soccer is done. Checketts says the team will likely stay in Utah for one more year, then it will probably be sold.
On Friday, the Salt Lake County Debt Review Committee voted unanimously that giving $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to help finance the $110 million soccer stadium in Sandy is a risky investment.
At the time, Corroon said he would decide early this week whether to recommend that the Salt Lake County Council commit public funding for the stadium.
KSL Newsradio this morning is reporting that plans to build a soccer stadium in Salt Lake County are dead.
KSL's Doug Wright spoke with Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts this morning. Checketts says based on a phone conversation he had with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, Real Salt Lake soccer is done. Checketts says the team will likely stay in Utah for one more year, then it will probably be sold.
On Friday, the Salt Lake County Debt Review Committee voted unanimously that giving $30 million in hotel-tax revenue to help finance the $110 million soccer stadium in Sandy is a risky investment.
At the time, Corroon said he would decide early this week whether to recommend that the Salt Lake County Council commit public funding for the stadium.
I agree with you Jedi that we should build it now. I also feel that the stadium will have a resounding draw amongst Utahn's and their families, now. No other sport has wider appeal amongst kids, and one thing that Utahn's are very much about, are their kids. That's what this stadium and its surrounding fields should be about more than anything else,"the kids."
While this probably doesn't matter anymore, the only reason soccer has a wide appeal among kids is because parents can put kids in a soccer league when they're 4-7 years old and know that the kids can have fun even if they don't understand anything. Most coaches of kids that age just tell the kids to run after the ball, and watching a game of kids that age is like watching a flock of birds wheel back and forth in the sky. Once kids are old enough to start understanding the strategy of baseball, and starting to develop the hand-eye coordination necessary for baseball and basketball, they leave soccer by the wayside. I'll bet that the numbers of kids playing soccer in the 4-7 age range is WAY bigger than the number playing in the 8-10 range. After that, I'll bet it drops off even more.
Basically, soccer fans can claim all they want that kids love soccer, but really it's just a matter of soccer being the least complicated game, which allows younger kids to participate. I don't think it has anything to do with the appeal of the game itself.
The overwhelming majority of the world's sporting population would rip that opinion to SHREDS.
We Americans have our right to pick amongst many different sports. There are several which hold alot of appeal for me and for most Forumers. IMHO soccer is anything but what is described above.
The overwhelming majority of the world's sporting population would rip that opinion to SHREDS.
We Americans have our right to pick amongst many different sports. There are several which hold alot of appeal for me and for most Forumers. IMHO soccer is anything but what is described above.
If you want to rip it to shreds, go ahead and do so. Don't just say that others would be able to. The fact that soccer is so popular throughout the world is irrelevant when you're discussing the U.S. where it's not even in the top 5. I just think it's funny when I see people/articles touting the growing popularity of soccer because of all the kids playing the game. Hell, I played the game 30 years ago as did everyone I know who was in that age range. But as I (and everyone else) got old enough to start playing other sports, I only have one friend that stuck with soccer through high school.
I agree with your assessment, DevDog...I teach 12/13 year olds, and there are still a few who like to PLAY soccer, but even they don't follow the professional games. Basketball, Football, and Baseball. That's what it's about for them.
And I can't say I'm sorry to see RSL or the Stadium go. RSL was an interesting experiment, but I don't think the Salt Lake area has the population to keep the sports franchises they've already got, let alone new ones. The Jazz rarely fill the Energy Solutions Arena, the Bees' baseball games are about half-full when we go (usually 3x per summer), and the Grizzlies...well, I honestly don't know about them.
It'll be interesting to see how the NBA D-League team in Utah County plays out. Yes, there's a lot of growth, but it's still a lot of teams and sports all competing for the same $$$.
__________________ Loving Salt Lake City. Despite everything, and because of everything.
I agree with you Wrendog. However, this is not a done deal yet. Just watch, "there's going to be a lot more to this than what a few naysayers seem to realize." This situation had to play itself out and there will still be some give and take as far as public participation. A deal for a stadium will still take place.
Rocky has contacted both Dave Checkets and Gov. Huntsman and is again pushing the Fair Grounds for the stadium. He is doing all that he can to get this thing built in SLC.
Rocky has contacted both Dave Checkets and Gov. Huntsman and is again pushing the Fair Grounds for the stadium. He is doing all that he can to get this thing built in SLC.
What the hell is wrong with you? No really don't you have a brain in your head? If you really think about it not only did we lose soccer, but now who the hell will want to bring a pro team here to salt lake now after this. ( football, baseball ) So yea let's cheer just how much salt lake got %%&*%$ over. What a great idea.
__________________
1. "Wells Fargo Building" 24-stories 422 FT 1998
2. "LDS Church Office Building" 28-stories 420 FT 1973
3. "111 South Main" 24-stories 387 FT 2016
4. "99 West" 30-stories 375 FT 2011
5. "Key Bank Tower" 27-stories 351 FT 1976
Last edited by SLC Projects; Jan 29, 2007 at 11:59 PM.
SLC, I understand your frustration, but you'll notice that Comrade seems to like the idea of soccer at the Fairgrounds location.
Comrade, what was the reason you hated the Sandy location, and why do you think the fairgrounds would work better? I myself would prefer downtown over all locations. However, I would much rather have Sandy than nothing.
Last edited by delts145; Jan 29, 2007 at 11:50 PM.
I for one think this was a big mistake. ( I kind of saw this coming for awhile now )
But I think it's just bullshit that our county leaders can't seem to get their heads out of their ass and see just how bad this is going to hurt not only the fans, but all of salt lake and utah. We are going to end up losing RSL to freaking New York or some other state that already has every freaking PRO team out there. And all we are going to have is the Utah Jazz.
I for one am EMARRASS to even be a utahn right now. What a black eye this will leave on our state. No one will ever what to expand or move a Pro team to utah ever again. Why? Cus our dumb ass courty leaders and Perter Caroon just prove to the rest of the country the SALT LAKE CAN'T SURPORT A PRO TEAM!
I think mayor Rocky Anderson said it best when he blames it all on the county leaders saying just how bad this makes us look as leaders and that this will leave a black eye on us for a while.
There are alot of people out there who love soccor and loved RSL. It's a fast growing sport in both the country and here in salt lake.
Once again I'm embarrass and so should our leaders for $^^&%$ing this up.
__________________
1. "Wells Fargo Building" 24-stories 422 FT 1998
2. "LDS Church Office Building" 28-stories 420 FT 1973
3. "111 South Main" 24-stories 387 FT 2016
4. "99 West" 30-stories 375 FT 2011
5. "Key Bank Tower" 27-stories 351 FT 1976
SLC, I understand your frustration, but you'll notice that Comrade seems to like the idea of soccer at the Fairgrounds location.
Comrade, what was the reason you hated the Sandy location, and why do you think the fairgrounds would work better?
Maybe I out of line here.
But Comrade hated RSL since day one just because it wasn't going to be built downtown. That is the only reason. And since then he just wanted not only the Sandy deal to fail, but all of RSL being in utah to fail altogether.
People like him bug me. Why? It's just the way they think, "If it's not going to be built downtown, then we don't want it AT ALL" what crap. Be better to have it in Sandy or even Utah county then freaking New York.
__________________
1. "Wells Fargo Building" 24-stories 422 FT 1998
2. "LDS Church Office Building" 28-stories 420 FT 1973
3. "111 South Main" 24-stories 387 FT 2016
4. "99 West" 30-stories 375 FT 2011
5. "Key Bank Tower" 27-stories 351 FT 1976
I don't give a crap about Real SL or soccer. I think it is a waste and Dave Checketts had demonstrated himself to be a prick once again. I've said this before, but they better keep tax money handy because in 15 - 20 years Larry Miller (or his son) will be crying for a new arena for the Jazz because it is status quo for every team to get a new arena every 15 - 30 years. Hell knows the Jazz are more valuable to the community than a 5th rated sport. The only downside of losing RSL would be that it would make the market less attractive to woo Major League Baseball or (*laugh*) NFL to Salt Lake.
Besides, sounds like a group in Utah County is looking to buy the team and place it on the old Geneva Steel site as they tried in the past.
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I agree with you Jedi that we should build it now. I also feel that the stadium will have a resounding draw amongst Utahn's and their families, now. No other sport has wider appeal amongst kids, and one thing that Utahn's are very much about, are their kids. That's what this stadium and its surrounding fields should be about more than anything else,"the kids."
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