This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
SANDY - They heaved dirt from gold-plated shovels, smiled and later hugged, proving perhaps the world's beautiful game indeed can bridge parochial politics and deep divides.
Standing shoulder to shoulder Saturday to break ground for Real Salt Lake's $100 million soccer stadium in Sandy: House Speaker Greg Curtis, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. Soccer - and pop culture - phenom David Beckham, RSL owner Dave Checketts and, later, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. also manned the ceremonial mound, drawing cheers and chants from several hundred frenzied fans.
"Ladies and gentleman, this is the place," Checketts announced, saying they were "pioneers in the world's No. 1 sport - soccer - in the state of Utah."
Staged just hours before Saturday's RSL exhibition with fabled Real Madrid, the celebration drew an end to a two-year stadium odyssey Checketts called a "great adventure" and later likened to a political buzz saw.
But some rough edges in the funding framework still must be smoothed.
Checketts, who said he didn't sleep the night before, conceded that despite newfound support from Salt Lake County leaders, the deal is not "absolutely done" and remains "a big act of faith."
"We have not agreed specifically how the [hotel taxes] will be involved here," he said, referring to $20 million pledged from the county, but not for five years. The offer promises "up to" $10 million in 2011 with another $10 million in 2015, along with an additional $20 million in already-secured tourist taxes designed for joint parking and infrastructure improvements.
The hotel tax is generated from a state-approved 1.25 percent bump on guests and is not siphoned from property or sales taxes. Sandy also has promised $15 million in redevelopment dollars, bringing RSL's total public purse to $55 million - $10 million higher than first requested.
In return, RSL will kick in $27.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions, along with a $7.5 million donation toward a youth soccer complex in northwest Salt Lake City.
Checketts received the county offer late Friday and then surprised business partners as the hour approached midnight at La Caille restaurant by blurting the team would put a shovel in the ground Saturday. He got a standing ovation.
"I just decided to take the leap," he explained Saturday. "We're going to make it happen."
County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson, who was at the dinner, explained that Checketts had a late phone conversation with county Mayor Peter Corroon during which a key sticking point was resolved. Suddenly, hotel-tax money could indeed be used toward stadium land, which was prohibited in the offer faxed just five hours earlier.
Corroon, away for his anniversary, missed the groundbreaking but attended Saturday's marquee match at Rice-Eccles Stadium. He emphasized the offer, unlike two that were rejected, is a good investment for residents and far from "a giveaway."
Checketts, who will stay in Utah this week to finalize terms, says he trusts the leaders will get the details worked out.
A special assembly of the County Council is expected to convene Tuesday to vote on the plan.
"One way or the other, this deal is going to happen," said Anderson, who pumped his fist when fans cheered and thanked him Saturday. "If it's not done at the county level, I would expect that, on a state level, something's going to happen."
Anderson, dubbed the deal's "unlikely hero" by County Council Chairman Cort Ashton, pulled the parties together two days before Saturday's stadium deadline then continued to lobby RSL late Friday at La Caille.
"We're close enough for this to be real," Huntsman said. "There is, I think, a strong political will at all levels to ensure that this works."
Throughout the summer, though, the stadium quest teetered as negotiations devolved into public backbiting and personal attacks. County leaders once called the team "chowderheads," only to be labeled "bush league" in return. Checketts even accused Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller of trying to scuttle the stadium.
Participants in last-minute talks describe Checketts as the "consummate gentleman," however, and say he opened the dialogue Thursday with an apology. Still, insiders and many soccer fans figured the stadium deal for dead until the 11th hour.
"It's one of the biggest moments of RSL's history," said Glenn Webb, president of the Loyalists fan club, who went to the field with his wife and three children late Friday when they got word about a deal. "It guarantees the team will be here."
Many fans focused less on the stadium intrigue Saturday than they did the British soccer star. "We we're sitting right behind him," Orem's Karlee Gunnell squealed about Beckham. "It was awesome."
RSL brass and officials from Real Madrid sounded equally enthusiastic about a planned soccer academy that would double as a school and training ground to cultivate young talent.
Checketts and Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon confirmed a partnership for the academy to be built somewhere in Salt Lake County. Huntsman would like to see it at the Utah State Fairpark.
Salt Lake City also stands to get a performing-arts center, with a Broadway-sized theater, from the balance in hotel taxes estimated near $74 million. And Salt Lake County should see millions for other projects and promotions.
Checketts noted three "hard offers with real money" for the team were presented from out-of-staters, while four "soft offers" also surfaced.
A key piece to the Sandy stadium puzzle occurred earlier this month, when RSL persuaded property owner Ardell Brown to sell his 10.5-acre RV park on the northeast corner of the Sandy site near 9400 S. State St.
"They sent the real estate guys after us," said Brown, who donned a hard hat and shovel Saturday and has been tapped to kick the first ball in the new stadium.
Now, Checketts explains, the team has 30 acres, enough for the stadium, hotel and broadcast studio. But that's just the start. Sandy and RSL have designs on a mixed-use mega-development in the stadium's shadow. The new deal, however, clarifies Salt Lake County won't be contributing money to the real estate venture.
RSL season-ticket holder Chris Enger of Herriman is more excited about what the deal does do: Keep the team here.
"It's fantastic," he said. "It means I get to keep my front-row seat"
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Tribune reporter Heather May contributed to this story.
What each contributes:
* County provides $20 million in previously allotted hotel taxes for parking and related improvements.
* County kicks in $20 million from new hotel taxes, possibly for stadium land.
* Sandy contributes $15 million in RDA funds.
* RSL provides $27.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions, along with a $7.5 million donation toward a youth soccer complex in northwest Salt Lake City.
* RSL commits to staying for at least 30 years or face a $10 million penalty.