1/31 News

[AreliusIII]

Real Salt Lake set to begin training camp
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635180362,00.html

Sequeira happy to be reporting to new camp
http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_3460064

Soccer site smaller, pricier
http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_3459861

Online asthma educational tool highlighting Jerry Sloan and John Ellinger
http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_3459569

[SoccerPrime]

Originally Posted by AreliusIII

Soccer site smaller, pricier
http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_3459861

20k instead of 25k is a little depressing, but not too much. I too worry about losing out on Int'l friendlies in the future, but I am sure they will make it work some how.

And although the article throws up a lot of red flags I am glad that we finally are seeing where the money is coming from.

BTW Orlando has had this tourist tax for years, pays for everything and is great.

[RSLfrontrowfan]

"At the same time, RSL says the Utah market warrants only a 20,000-seat stadium, meaning 5,000 seats will be scratched from the blueprint."

Why is RSL making this claim? Is this claim founded? I don't think so. Did they already forget opening day and the qualifier attendance figures? I think they'll regret not building a bigger stadium in the long run. They're thinking that when the stadium approaches sell outs consistantly they can raise ticket prices as demand grows over supply.

[SoccerPrime]

Originally Posted by RSLfrontrowfan

-snip-They're thinking that when the stadium approaches sell outs consistantly they can raise ticket prices as demand grows over supply.

Thats EXACTLY why they want a 20k over 25k. A 20k is slightly cheaper to build and they figure they can almost guarantee a 20k stadium sell-out, thus allowing them to create a catalyst for raised ticket prices. More Demand, Less Supply equals= $$$
Its all about the benjamin$. Always has been.

[the cup]

I think it is safe to say that the stadium won't have the upper section of seats now. By taking that upper section out you take away a few thousand seats and you get a stadium looking alot like all the other new ones being built. It will make it less expensive to build though.

Hopefully we can put something extra into it that will make it unique.

On the plus side, a 20k stadium would create a demand for tickets if it is constantly selling out.

On the negative side though, we won't be able to pad our attendance numbers with big games like the USMNT game and the 40k+ crowd.

Keep in mind, we did have three or four games where we only had 12k.

[Rover]

Hopefully the design will be expandable, so in the future we can boost capacity to 25-30K.

I can see justification for 20K instead of 25K in the short term, but down the line we'll need something bigger.

I agree Cup--the upper deck is probably gone now. Same thing happened with PHP, where early designs had a deck but the final product does not.

If they build it without a permanent stage, I don't mind the reduction is capacity all that much.

[RSLfrontrowfan]

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

Thats EXACTLY why they want a 20k over 25k. A 20k is slightly cheaper to build and they figure they can almost guarantee a 20k stadium sell-out, thus allowing them to create a catalyst for raised ticket prices. More Demand, Less Supply equals= $$$
Its all about the benjamin$. Always has been.

I still say in the long run they regret not having a larger stadium. Population growth projections for the wasatch front all point towards more of the same -near nation leading population growth. Estimates for most all of the West point toward strong population growth. Demand will only drive prices so high (you need look no further than the NBA to see the attendance vs price trend - attendance has been trending down as prices continue up), instead of selling 20K seats for 20k * $ amount now why not sell 25k seats in 5+ years for 25k * $ amount.

[the cup]

Hopefully Checketts will understand the Utah family and what it can afford and cannot. I want to see RSL make money, alot of money, but I don't want to see it turn into something like Jazz ticket prices. I haven't been to a Jazz game since they were at the Salt Palace. Who has $50 or more to spend on a basketball game? Sure as hell not me. I'm lucky I can afford my RSL season tickets, and just barely at that.

It probably will never come to that though, the Jazz's ticket prices have more to do with the NBA and their million dollar player saleries I suppose.

[the cup]

Originally Posted by Rover

If they build it without a permanent stage, I don't mind the reduction is capacity all that much.

True.

If we are going to have a smaller stadium lets make a real soccer stadium. To hell with this stage crap.

I've never understood the stage. Yeh, I know a selling point is that they want to hold concerts as well but good hell. If you want to hold a concert just put something down to protect the grass, erect a stage out in the middle of the pitch and then take it all down when it is done.

All right, now I am worked up. Someone get Checketts on the phone, I need to talk to him about this stadium.

[Stucki]

I think I remember hearing that even with the larger proposed capacity it was going to be expandable.

If we start consistently selling out, I'm sure the stadium will be expanded.