This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
SANDY - If Real Salt Lake and its owner, Dave Checketts, can't be in downtown Salt Lake City, they will build downtown in suburbia.
Plans for a 25,000-seat stadium in Sandy - made official Wednesday - are just the beginning for Checketts. He also is dreaming big with ideas for housing, shopping and dining along with practice fields, open space and hotels.
Those ambitions start with the construction of a soccer-specific stadium, whose price tag could climb to $75 million.
"It will almost be a 'Real' city," Checketts said at a news conference held across the street from the future stadium site at 9400 South and State Street. "This will be a spectacular Soccer City, USA."
The stadium is being designed by the same architect who created the Home Depot Center for Major League Soccer's L.A. Galaxy. Like that stadium, Sandy's venue will include a half-roof-like structure to contain the stadium's noise and lights.
"It'll make it so it's a little more rowdy," said fan Chris Fessler, who attended the news conference wearing a Real jersey. "It's great."
Before any of those dreams come true, Checketts and Utah's politicians must figure out how to fund the facility. Officials, including Utah's governor, state lawmakers, city leaders and team leaders, were heavy on vision but scant on financial details.
One thing is certain: The state won't be giving the team a pot of money, said House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy. And taxes won't jump, said Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan and RSL officials.
Checketts hopes to know by early next year - when the stadium costs should be nailed down - who will pay for what.
"It is going to be significantly financed through private capital," Checketts said, though he wouldn't give a percentage. "It is not going to be done in a way that will increase the load on the Utah taxpayers. This is not a George Bush, 'Read my lips.' I'm just telling you it will not be done."
Sen. Curtis Bramble said his proposed rewrite of Utah's redevelopment agency (RDA) statute could be a way to fund the stadium. The Provo Republican plans to run legislation next year that would allow cities to tap property and sales taxes generated within a zone to promote community development. Unlike with traditional RDAs, Bramble's proposal wouldn't entitle cities to take portions of those taxes destined for the state, county, schools or other taxing entities.
Salt Lake County will play a part. Talk has focused on RSL tapping the county's $18 million cache set aside to build a parking garage for the adjacent South Towne Expo Center to instead buy land for the stadium.
Checketts said Wednesday that the team is buying the land, but added the county's role is yet to be worked out.
"Nobody has come to us with a proposal," County Mayor Peter Corroon said. "We all assume that's what Real is going to ask us."
But County Council members may not go along.
County Councilman Joe Hatch said the Legislature should give them direction. "They're the ones that wanted this. It wasn't a county initiative," he said.
And Councilman Mark Crockett, a longtime stadium opponent, suggested the $18 million be dumped into the county's Zoo, Arts and Parks coffers.
"Real and Sandy could apply for funding alongside all the other applicants," Crockett said. "At least then it would be an open and public process."
Even without a Salt Lake County deal in hand, RSL has 22 acres near 9400 South and State Street under contract. The team hopes to buy up more property in the 137-acre block bordered by 9000 South, State Street, 9400 South and Interstate 15 for commercial developments such as retail, hotels and restaurants.
"That's all conceptual," Dolan said. "Nobody knows what it will look like in five or 10 years."
The area today is covered by independent businesses, houses and an apartment complex, an RV park, a nightclub, a nursery and even a skating rink.
RSL fans attended Wednesday's news conference and oohed and aahed at the stadium renderings. But some of those same cheerleaders said they had mixed feelings about Sandy elbowing out Salt Lake City for the venue.
"There's something to be said for having one of these stadiums being built downtown," said Robb Enger, a fan from Riverton. "But, seriously, we're stoked to have it here."
"Anywhere's fine at this point," said Brandon Fleming, from Eagle Mountain. "It's nice to just finally have this done."
Checketts said choosing between Sandy and downtown Salt Lake City was agonizing - one of the hardest decisions in his life. It came down to three key issues:
* Timing. RSL needed to be out of the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium before 2008 because playing there any longer would have threatened the stadium's tax-free bond status. "At the end of the day, I did not believe I could get this done downtown in the way that I wanted to in time," Checketts said.
* Land availability. The team wanted land for a stadium, along with property for commercial developments and youth fields. "I want children to be able to play on fields in the shadows of the stadium. I want them to aspire to grow up and play in the pros," Checketts said.
* Politics. Checketts praised Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's diligence in trying to make downtown work, but the RSL owner conceded political winds played a role. "It would be absolutely wrong to say that the Rocky Factor prevented this from happening," Checketts said. "It became doable out here."
That's because the politicians lined up behind Sandy.
"The leadership was very united with Speaker Curtis and Mayor Dolan, with Peter Corroon, with [Senate President] John Valentine - they were all just supportive of moving in this direction," Checketts said.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. called Sandy an inspired choice. As for Sandy winning out over the capital, the governor said, "My interest was keeping them in the state."
The stadium could take business away from Salt Lake City. It will include a permanent stage for concerts - competing with downtown's Delta Center, along with West Valley City's E Center and Usana Amphitheater. Checketts said he liked Sandy because the concert market will be less competitive there.
And while Salt Lake City officials hope the stadium's funding mechanism also will help the capital build up cultural venues downtown, Curtis was cool to the idea. He noted there already are millions in county funds - including ZAP - available for the arts.
With the stadium site solidified, Checketts said it's time to improve the team's losing record.
Valentine agreed. At the podium, he grabbed a soccer ball and pleaded with the RSL players in the audience: "More shots on goal."
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Tribune reporter Derek P. Jensen contributed to this story.