The team, now playing its matches at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, has Sandy City's approval to begin demolition and grading at 9256 S. State Street. Construction is on hold until the city's planning staff grants final approval - probably later this spring - for RSL's building plans.
And RSL has been directed to complete a comprehensive parking-management plan at least four months before the stadium opener.
RSL had planned a July 4, 2008 opening with an exhibition match against Real Madrid. But delays in securing funding for the $110 million stadium means it likely won't open before August 2008.
"What we are starting here is really the building of a home," said Dean Howes, RSL's chief executive officer. "That process is energizing. It reminds us that we have a place in a community, and that we have a responsibility to that community."
Several months after staging a ceremonial ground breaking with soccer superstar David Beckham, RSL's plans for the stadium stalled when Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon declined to invest hotel taxes in the project. He called the investment "unsafe" after conducting a financial review of the team's business plan.
RSL owner Dave Checketts threatened to move the franchise to St. Louis.
But, with the backing of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., the Legislature salvaged the deal in February, channeling $35 million of Salt Lake County hotel taxes toward land, parking and infrastructure at the stadium site. Sandy City has pledged another $10 million in property-tax increment funding for the project.
New York-based investment firm iStar Financial has agreed to loan the team about $70 million to build the stadium. RSL revealed in late March that iStar has replaced Goldman Sachs as its private investor.
The stadium is expected to seat 20,000 people for games and up to 25,000 for concerts. The building's height, topped by canopies intended to shield surrounding neighborhoods from noise and light, will stretch to 111 feet.
RSL fan Scot Boyd is looking forward to watching matches in the stadium. A Sandy resident, he's already staked out his parking spot and plans to buy 2008 season tickets.
"Truth be told, Rice-Eccles isn't horrible. But the difference between seeing a game in that environment and seeing a game in a soccer-specific stadium is huge," Boyd said. "Sight lines will be perfect."
Not everyone, though, is pleased with plans to funnel $45 million in public funds to the project. Public opinion polls during the legislative session showed a majority of Utahns disapproved of the deal. And a referendum petition drive is seeking to overturn the bill that allocated Salt Lake County dollars.
The grass-roots campaign's Web site - http://www.getrealutah.org - claims to have gathered 35,000 of the 92,000 signatures needed to place the issue before voters this fall. The petition drive must meet an April 9 deadline.
Brad Swedlund started the effort after being disgusted with the Legislature's action.
"Just about everything about it was wrong," Swedlund said. "Salt Lake County . . . made a responsible decision. The state got involved, [and] threw out the ideals of smaller government, local government, fiscal responsibility, and kind of topped it off by thumbing their noses . . . at the citizenry of Utah."
The Governor's Office of Economic Development has asked Sandy to work out final project details with RSL. As part of that process, the public will have a chance to comment on the plan, which the Sandy City Council is expected to consider April 17.
Then the city will create a Community Development Area at the stadium site to collect the increased property taxes the project is expect to draw.
Sandy also will craft a development agreement with Real Salt Lake, which will include commitments the team must make in order to receive public funds. Residents can comment on this phase as well, which is expected to be done early this summer.
rwinters@sltrib.com
* It is expected to seat 20,000 people for games and up to 25,000 for concerts.
* RSL had planned a July 4, 2008, opening. But delays in securing funding for the $110 million stadium means it likely won't open before August 2008.
Even as the team tries to finalize its construction plans, some last-minute opposition remains
"What we are starting here is really the building of a home. That process is energizing. It reminds us that we have a place in a community, and that we have a responsibility to that community."
