Corroon Gets Green Light to Negotiate Final Stadium Deal

None by KCPW

Checketts Admits to Planning a Team Sale

(KCPW News) Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts now admits he did plan to sell the team if he didn't have a clear-cut stadium plan in hand by last Saturday. But a last minute offer from Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon gave him confidence to break ground without dry ink on a funding plan.

Last night the County Council gave Corroon a green light to negotiate the final stadium deal based on his proposal.
Specifically, Corroon proposes the county bond for $20 million to buy land and infrastructure for the stadium in Sandy and share an already-planned parking structure between the stadium and the South Towne Expo Center.

In return, Real Salt Lake commits to make $27 million in cash and in-kind contributions to the county and city, including a youth soccer complex and a 50-cent surcharge on tickets for stadium events. Checketts has not formally agreed to the proposal, but is confident the Mayor's framework will yield a workable solution.

"I have no resentment aboutanything in the past," said Checketts. "Instead, I am looking forward to building a soccer franchise, park and academy in Salt Lake City and a soccer stadium in Sandy - and going forward to make this a franchise the community and be proud of."

Checketts insists his premature groundbreaking for the stadium on Saturday was not intended to pressure county officials. Several members of the council called the Mayor's plan a very good deal for the county and asked that he not deviate from it in making final negotiations. An incredulous-sounding Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan made a biblical reference in describing the resurrection of the stadium proposal.

"Call me Lazarus," quipped Dolan.

The County Council still must approve the final stadium proposal once Mayor Corroon finishes negotiations with Real Salt Lake and Sandy City officials.

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