This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An overlooked, underused block on the southern edge of downtown Salt Lake City could become the site of a Major League Soccer stadium.
The Salt Lake Tribune has learned the city wants to buy 10 acres bounded by Main Street and West Temple and 600 South and 700 South for a 22,000-seat stadium that would house Utah's newest sports team, Real Salt Lake, and host concerts and other sporting events.
"It's the only site we're proposing," confirmed Deeda Seed, spokeswoman to Mayor Rocky Anderson. The city also considered land west of The Gateway.
Real wants the $60 million stadium to be easily accessible and a player in a larger revitalization game plan. Salt Lake City's site may fit those goals. The venue would be between two TRAX light-rail stations - one at 450 South and one planned at 900 South - and near the 600 South Interstate 15 off-ramp. The land also sits in the middle of an anchorless neighborhood but mere blocks from a major downtown redevelopment.
But that doesn't mean the stadium will open on that property, which is mainly held by Earl Holding, owner of the nearby Grand America and Little America hotels.
Murray is pitching a site, too, just north of the 4400 South TRAX station.
While Real officials have said they favor a downtown Salt Lake City stadium, Murray may have an edge because it has a private property-owner willing to sell and 100 acres surrounding the proposed centrally located site primed for redevelopment. A team-commissioned poll also found more residents back a stadium in Murray.
"We haven't received a final proposal" from Salt Lake City, said Real consultant Josh Ewing. The plan is due Jan. 15.
"We haven't made any decisions about the site," he added. "We're going to take public input at a series of public meetings before the end of the month."
As the team weighs its decision, the LDS Church may have some influence. Real CEO Dean Howes met with Presiding Bishop H. David Burton - who oversees the church's physical facilities, including its $500 million redevelopment of the Crossroads and ZCMI Center malls on downtown's north end.
"We're Utah boys," Howes said. "We understand that we can be far more successful if we work with the church and listen to their advice."
The church declined to comment on where the stadium should be built.
Downtown types have been waiting for a southern anchor to the church's northern ones, which include Temple Square.
"It strengthens the southern side," said Vasilios Priskos, a downtown property broker. He said the venue may boost downtown more with its concerts than its 20 to 22 Real home games. "It would do wonders for the restaurants and the tourists and for downtown in general."
Salt Lake City officials aren't saying how much it would cost to purchase the land. But they have said money from the city's Redevelopment Agency would be tapped to assemble property and improve the infrastructure. Real officials have estimated it would cost either Murray or Salt Lake City between $5 million and $15 million for the land.
It would cost another $60 million to $65 million to build the stadium. Real expects to ask Salt Lake County voters to fund half the construction cost through a bond that would raise property taxes.
The stadium could open in time for the 2007 season. Until then, the team will play at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, starting in April.
RDA Director Dave Oka couldn't say if the city planned to condemn properties to make way for the stadium.
Holding's representative didn't return phone calls Thursday.
Mark Miller Toyota is also on the block. Miller said the mayor called him last week about the stadium, but Miller said they didn't talk price. Miller leases his property from Capital Automotive REIT, a publicly traded finance company that specializes in automotive retail real estate. Capital declined to comment.
"It's all in the formative stages," Miller said. "The city doesn't want it to get out because I don't think they've contacted all the property owners."
Stan Roberts, who identified himself as the owner of Rick Warner Body Shop, said Wednesday the city had not called him. "That's the first I've heard of it. Yeah, it's for sale, I guess, [for] fair-market value."
There are six soccer-specific stadiums for Major League Soccer's 12 teams. Many of the newer ones are part of massive development projects, and most are in the suburbs. For instance, the Colorado Rapids' stadium will be part of a 360-acre development in Commerce City near Denver. Plans call for two regulation-size fields, up to 20 practice fields and a new city civic center. One planned for the MetroStars in New Jersey will be surrounded by new offices, shops, apartments and lofts.
In all cases, the stadiums expect to be used year-round. Real says its stadium could host 100 to 150 events a year, including conventions, community events and high school games.
Such a venue could compete with other concert sites, including downtown's Delta Center. Dennis Haslam, president and chief operating officer of Larry H. Miller Sports, said the Delta Center will become more competitive by hosting concerts for smaller acts - using just 5,000 of the Delta Center's 19,000 seats.
"I don't think we have concerns about [the soccer stadium]," he said. "We wish them well wherever they end up."