Sandy Stadium Nearly a Done Deal
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) Real Salt Lake's Stadium dreams - once declared dead - are now just one vote from reality. KCPW's Julie Rose reports on dramatic moves at the Utah Legislature:
One more legislative vote and ReAL Salt Lake will have its coveted soccer stadium in Sandy. State Senators voted yesterday to divert 35-million tourism tax dollars from Salt Lake County to the stadium.
It took a full-court press by Governor Jon Huntsman Junior to convince lawmakers the deal is a good one - and now House Speaker Greg Curtis will work to convince his own colleagues to give their final approval. The deal commits 20 years worth of Salt Lake County's hotel taxes to buy land for the Sandy stadium and pay for a parking garage that will be shared by the South Towne Expo Center.
State Senators voted 20 to 8 to support the deal, but only after learning of the Salt Lake County Council's support for the funding. Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan thinks his city can still come up with ten to fifteen million dollars for the stadium, with or without support from the Jordan School District. The House is expected to vote on the plan tomorrow morning.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Anonymous said:
I am glad to see that our governor and state senators know a good deal when they sees one. Its encouraging knowing that they will not stand by and watch politicans like Peter Corroon flip-flop desperately back and forth trying to save what is a pitiful career in politics. In doing so he was putting a deal that promises great future econmic revenue for Utah and the oppourtunity as a center for soccer in the United States.
2. Zach Stephenson said:
I am from Idaho Falls Idaho and i do not like basketball. So that leaves me with driving to Seattle of deenver for a sport that i like. Now, like many others in Idaho we were very excited about the stadium in Salt lake for the soccer team, i know it will generate tourist income, i have spent 1000 dollars going to games since i went to their inaugural game. They should do whatever it takes to keep the stadium.