RSL announces corporate reception

AreliusII · 03-11-2005, 07:15 PM

Interesting blurb today in the Provo newspaper. I couldn't find it on the website, so I'll type it here:

"Real Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Chamber announced Wednesday that it will be holding its inaugural Real Salt Lake Corporate Reception with RSL Owner David W. Checketts as the main speaker at the Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday.

"At the event invitees will hear Checketts discuss "Utah Sports: Past, Present and Future" and will also hear from a surprise special guest speaker. Space is limited but corporate guests can still RSVP at rsvp [at] realsaltlake.com or by calling 801-924-8585."

Interesting. RSL is reaching out the businesses; trying to get them to buy the expensive seats, I suppose.

Any ideas who the mystery guest speaker might be?

Holding?
Garber?
One of the players?
Since this is an event for the business community I would bet on someone "corporate" or "executive." Or perhaps it is a venerable Utah sports figure (Malone?).

After typing this in, I did a google search and came up with a press release by the Salt Lake Chamber president:

"Real Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Chamber are holding the First Annual Real Salt Lake Corporate Reception on March 16th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Rice Eccles Stadium Tower Club 4th Floor. Dave Checkets will be speaking on Utah Sports: A Past, Present, and Future. To register, email rsvp [at] realsaltlake.com. "

Rover · 03-11-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusII

Interesting blurb today in the Provo newspaper. I couldn't find it on the website, so I'll type it here:

"Real Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Chamber announced Wednesday that it will be holding its inaugural Real Salt Lake Corporate Reception with RSL Owner David W. Checketts as the main speaker at the Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday.

"At the event invitees will hear Checketts discuss "Utah Sports: Past, Present and Future" and will also hear from a surprise special guest speaker. Space is limited but corporate guests can still RSVP at rsvp [at] realsaltlake.com or by calling 801-924-8585."

Interesting. RSL is reaching out the businesses; trying to get them to buy the expensive seats, I suppose.

Any ideas who the mystery guest speaker might be?

Holding?
Garber?
One of the players?
Since this is an event for the business community I would bet on someone "corporate" or "executive." Or perhaps it is a venerable Utah sports figure (Malone?).

After typing this in, I did a google search and came up with a press release by the Salt Lake Chamber president:

"Real Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Chamber are holding the First Annual Real Salt Lake Corporate Reception on March 16th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Rice Eccles Stadium Tower Club 4th Floor. Dave Checkets will be speaking on Utah Sports: A Past, Present, and Future. To register, email rsvp [at] realsaltlake.com. "

Anyone want to know how stadiums get built?

Watch Uncle Dave as he works this crowd.

As for the guest speaker, I'll go with Don Garber. That said, as much as I respect Garber's leadership, I have a hard time thinking of him as a "surprise special guest speaker." So maybe it will be someone like Malone, who can add some credibility to the event for local corporate types.

Remember, follow the money . . . 😉

AreliusII · 03-11-2005, 09:02 PM

So, the hypothesis is that Checketts will use this event to drum up support for the stadium and perhaps even ask for contributions/investments.

Sports in Utah, the Past: The Jazz. Checkett’s was there from the beginning.

Sports in Utah, the Present: ? Will he draw on the abysmal year of the Jazz to illustrate that there has got to be something better?

Sports in Utah, the Future: Undoubtedly, this is where Checketts transmits his conviction that the world’s sport, soccer, is the sport of the future. He might even provide statistics supporting his belief that soccer will thrive here in Utah;
1) How there are more kids playing soccer per capita in Utah than any other state, etc.
2) How the large linguistic and ethnic diversity will lend itself to interest in soccer.
3) How soccer is compatible with family-oriented entertainment.
2) Will he use the Blitzz as an example of a successful soccer team here in Utah?

Then, he will segue way into the stadium issue; how the MLS teams with a SSS are the only ones who have come close to being profitable and how necessary it is to have a SSS here in Utah.

He will touch on the recent legislation prohibiting RDA funds from being used for sports stadiums.

With the problem outlined and understood, he will propose the solution: that those in attendance collectively provide 50% of the funding to build the stadium. By so doing, they will be contributing to the future of Utah.

SoccerPrime · 03-11-2005, 09:43 PM

Any Loyalists going to go? We really need at least one person there as a representative (and Chris Kenney doesn't count).

Neil · 03-12-2005, 01:43 AM

I'll give them a call, or maybe just ask them more about this tomorrow, I happen to be the co-owner of two Utah based companies. And I don't just make boondogles and sell them door to door, they're real live corporations.

AreliusII · 03-15-2005, 10:01 AM

MLS COMMISSIONER GARBER & RSL OWNER CHECKETTS VISITING SALT LAKE CITY: Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and RSL Owner David W. Checketts will visit Salt Lake City this week. Garber and Checketts are scheduled to speak at the First Annual Real Salt Lake Corporate Reception, held in conjunction with the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:15 p.m. MT. The duo will also host a media breakfast at the Alta Club, located at 100 East South Temple, on Thursday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m. MT. Please RSVP with Trey Fitz-Gerald via e-mail at tfitz [at] RealSaltLake.com to confirm attendance.

http://www.altaclub.org/

AreliusII · 03-15-2005, 10:48 AM

So, in addition to addressing the corporate bigwigs at RES tomorrow, Don Garber is going to find Sen. Curtis Bramble and put him in a headlock…

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2608350

Neil · 03-15-2005, 12:18 PM

I RSVP'd, should be kind of cool to hear Garber's thoughts on RSL..

SoccerPrime · 03-15-2005, 12:22 PM

Very nice Neil. Let us know how it goes.

AreliusII · 03-15-2005, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusII

So, in addition to addressing the corporate bigwigs at RES tomorrow, Don Garber is going to find Sen. Curtis Bramble and put him in a headlock…

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2608350

Major League Soccer Commish to Lobby Local Leaders
Mar. 15, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Major League Soccer's commissioner will lobby local leaders this week to get Real Salt Lake a publicly-funded stadium.

Don Garber's first stop will be Governor Huntsman's office on Wednesday.

Team C-E-O Dean Howes said Garber will likely discuss a bill that forbids cities from using Redevelopment Agency money for sports stadiums with the Huntsman.

Howes said he hopes Garber will carry the message of how well the league is doing and that it's on a firm foundation and moving in the right direction.

R-S-L wants to build a stadium and has focused on Salt Lake City or Murray. The chosen city is expected either to buy the land for the stadium or pay for infrastructure.