Community Action!!!

[bordelais7]

I would prefer to see a shift in the discussion to a scenario that would allow the team to continue to play at their current home, Rice-Eccles Stadium, for a few more years.

This is the part that really gets me. To paraphrase:

"I would prefer to see a shift in the discussion to a scenario that would force the team to continue to lose money, fans, and soccer credibility at their current home, Rice-Eccles Stadium, for a period long enough to chase them from town so that I won't have to deal with this issue any longer."

[the cup]

I've emailed the Mayor, Wilson, Bradley, and Horiuchi.

I wonder though if it has gone right into their "junk" file.

I'd love to be able to make it to the Council meeting tomorrow but work won't have any of that.

[AreliusIV]

Where to Build the Soccer Stadium?

[StarsOnSunday]

I worte this:

I am writing with regards to the proposed funding for Real Salt Lake's soccer-specific stadium. We live on Hollow Mill Dr. in Cottonwood Heights and as registered voters in Salt Lake County we would like to inform you of our overwhelming support for county funding for RSL's stadium infrastructure. We are not usually very politically active, but we do vote and this is our big issue. We love soccer and we especially love that which Real Salt Lake have provided for our family and our community. We will be watching to see how you vote on this matter. Please consider the benefits that RSL's proposal bring to our community as a whole and to our families who are looking for wholesome entertainment options out here in the 'burbs. Thanks for all you do, and thanks for taking the time to listen to families like mine. Long live Real!

I got this in return:

Dear Mr. Spongberg,

Thank you for contacting Salt Lake County. Mayor Corroon has requested that I follow up with you on your email. Mayor Corroon appreciates the benefits that the team brings to our communities and is in favor of having them stay in Salt Lake County. The mayor has stated that the door is still open for funding and is interested in reviewing the new proposals our office has received, especially those that meet his criteria of being fiscally responsible and beneficial to all county residents.

There will be a presentation at tomorrow’s 1pm County Council meeting by Sandy City if you are interested in learning more. Public comment will not be taken until the 4pm council meeting, but the public is invited to attend both meetings.

Thank you for sending in your comments to Mayor Corroon. Your feedback and participation in this issue is appreciated by the mayor. Please feel free to contact my office I can provide you additional information or assistance, thank you.

Respectfully,
Stacee Adams
Office of the Mayor
801-468-2500

[prk166]

Good to see folks are speaking up. I don't think people realize how much of a difference they can make if they all send emails, make phones call and send letters. I'd strongly recomend the phone calls and the letters. For what it's worth, the political types tend to be more comfortable with them in that they're coming from someone in the area that they represent.

Give 'em hell and best of luck tomorrow night at the meeting!

[Stucki]

Hopefully he gets this right before he goes to hear the proposal.


Mr. Hendrickson

As a Utah Educator, I have grown increasingly frustrated with the inablility of elected officials to adequately fund an educational system that is growing at a rate beyond what I believe they are capable of understanding. Their lack of vision in providing a base for economic growth for our state in a strong, adequately funded educational system has been irresponsible.

Now I see the Salt Lake County Council suffering from a similar vision problem. I see a responsible businessman asking for a similar deal to that Jazz owner Larry H. Miller received from Salt Lake City to build the Delta Center at a time the finanical viability of the Jazz was questioned. Mr. Miller stated he needed the new arena to make his team financially profitable. I don't remember any public outcry over that. Mr. Checketts is asking for the same deal, for the same reasons, and yet has not been given the same consideration. In fact, he has been roundly criticized for offering to improve this community.

I think you have underestimated the soccer community of this county. Because of a lack of coverage of their sport, soccer fans are more wired to the internet and form more cohesive communities than other sports fans. If soccer fans are given a reason to go to the polls, those that are not already politically active will become one issue voters.

In addition to the issues surrounding the stadium, the south end of the valley will benefit greatly from the surrounding youth fields. I have been to the complex jointly built by FC Dallas and the City of Frisco, TX. The fields were full of kids in organized leagues playing game, plus a few fields full of kids playing for the sheer joy of the game.

Please carefully look at the proposal of Mr. Dolan and see the vision of community building that this complex will provide.

Scott Stucki
7823 S. Pioneer
Midvale, UT 84047





Hail the Utah Aggies!

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

Aerick, send this back to her:
1. Regardless of whether or not these are viable entities, "we" will not be looking at an empty stadium in 10 years. Dave Checketts might be, but "we" will not because "we" are not paying for a stadium. Dave is assuming that risk. The new sidewalks will still be there and still be getting use whether or not RSL survives.
2. It's supported by those who know the truth about the project.
3. If $15M in hotel tax is enough to ruin the county financially, I question the financial decisions that got you to this point.
4. Is $7.2M not enough?

And this is the response I got to those points:

Dear Eric,

Under the proposal that was rejected by Mayor Corroon, the county would be assuming a fairly large risk. The team wanted to use a revenue stream that would not be available until 2011, as it is currently committed to the Salt Palace expansion project. The county would end up paying nearly $90 million over more than 20 years to make the $35 million in revenue available to the team. If the team were not successful, Salt Lake County would still have to make those bond payments. An empty stadium is not producing any tax revenue for the County. While $15 million (ReAL wanted more than twice that much - $35 million) may not be enough to “ruin” the County, I would contend that $90 million is. The $7.2 million donated by ReAL earlier this year was specifically for Youth Soccer in Salt Lake City, not for the stadium project.

As I stated before, I am willing to consider alternative funding proposals, including the Sandy City proposal, but only if they meet some very specific criteria. Thank you for your response.

Sincerely,

Jenny Wilson, At-Large B
Salt Lake County Council

I fear she may have misinterpreted my points. I'll write back to clarify.

[Aero]

Wasn't this her original question?

What are the benefits to the community beyond the stadium itself? For example, is ReAL Salt Lake willing to support the creation and maintenance of youth soccer programs for the community? Or are there other worthwhile projects that can be supported in conjunction with this project?

And doesn't this answer this question?

The $7.2 million donated by ReAL earlier this year was specifically for Youth Soccer in Salt Lake City, not for the stadium project.

Wasn't her question about what they were going to do "beyond the stadium itself" including other "youth soccer programs for the community?" Well then, what is she talking about? Can't she even see the nose on the front of her very own face? Man I hate double-talking politicians that think we are that stupid. Politicians suck!

[Aero]

And one more thing, why is she talking about the plan that was rejected by the Mayor when she knows full well that isn't the plan that is going to be presented or used? Why not talk about the actual facts that are still pertinent instead of focusing on something that is long dead?

Her entire response was political double-talk of the highest degree and I'm just flabber-gasted that she believes that people are dumb enough not to see right though it. Does she believe that all of her constituents are this stupid?

[Dadof3]

My letter to Corroon:

Hello Mr. Corroon,

I am just writing to let you know of my opinion re the proposed stadium funding for the RSL stadium.

It is my understanding that you believe, because of all the positive feedback you received re your decision not to go along with the previously proposed funding, that the public at large does not support funding the stadium at all. I do not agree.

To set the record straight...I am a RSL fan...I live in SLCounty...AND, I supported your decision. It was baffling to me that those pushing the deal either did not realize or ignored the financial implications of not paying back a bond until the 10th year. I agree with you completely that paying almost $90 million for a $35mil bond makes no sense financially, and I applaud your backbone.

BUT, it appears from the press that you think the average citizen is against funding the stadium at all. I suggest you look back to an article, I believe it was in the Tribune, re a poll taken by RSL about this issue. In a direct contradiction of the Des News polls, this poll had a healthy majority supporting the concept. Why the discrepancy? Because the RSL poll actually laid out both sides of the issue. For some reason the Des News has decided they do not want the stadium to receive funding, so they are intentionally distorting the facts (especially the fact that Miller received similar public finding for the D Center) and did so when they did the poll. The Des News poll questions ask, "do you support giving RSL $45 mil in public funding for a stadium?" The RSL poll asked "Do you support public funding of the infrastructure (streets, sewer, etc) of a new stadium where $45 million is provided by public funds, with $35 million from the hotel tax, with RSL to pay for all of the costs of the structure itself ($100 million)? Surprise, surprise, the 2 polls come up with extremely different answers.

Unlike some soccer fans, I know that you are not a hater and are a fan yourself. Please allow yourself to have an open mind re the new proposal (especially if it does address the concerns you listed when you turned down the other proposal) and remember that this stadium will mean everything for RSL...will help Sandy...will help the whole valley.

Finally...for those who say they don't want to fund some millionaire's plaything...remember, this is MLS and soccer we are talking about...this isn't the NFL where owners who are making millions on their teams have the leverage to force the cities into buying them new stadiums for hundreds of millions of dollars just so the owners can make even more profit. RSL and MLS needs this in the short term just to survive...just like Larry Miller realized the only way he could truly compete in the NBA was with a new stadium...which he funded himself...oh, except for the land and infrastructure which was paid for through RDA bonding...sound familiar?

Thank you for your time.

Scot Boyd




His response:

Dear Mr. Boyd,

Thank you for contacting Salt Lake County. Mayor Corroon has requested that I follow up with you on your email. Your email was very insightful in regards to the way the situation is being played out in the media. Despite what is published, it is important to remember that the door for possible funding is still open and the mayor is especially interested in reviewing any proposal that has a fiscally responsible approach.

Sandy City will be presenting a new proposal for the stadium at tomorrow's County Council meeting. The presentation will be at 1:00pm and the public is invited to attend. Public comment will not be taken at that meeting, but will be encouraged during the 4:00pm meeting.

Mayor Corroon appreciates your participation in this debate and will keep your comments in mind when reviewing the new proposals our office has received. Please contact me if I can provide you additional information or assistance, thank you.

Respectfully,
Stacee Adams
Office of the Mayor