Group Offers Free Land In Utah County For RSL Stadium

Utah-based Anderson Development has offered free land for a Real Salt Lake stadium in Utah County, according to May & Santini of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Some of the 1,700 acres the company purchased in November for nearly $47M “is ready for development now and the entire parcel is expected to be cleansed within five years. Anderson is eyeing offices, shops and condos mixed with existing industrial uses.” Utah state House Speaker Greg Curtis, “one of the architects” of the plan for a stadium in Sandy, works for Anderson Partner Michael Hutchings’ law firm, but Curtis said that he “has no financial stake in the site and is not involved with the offer to RSL.” Meanwhile, May & Santini report RSL Owner Dave Checketts on a conference call Thursday “broached the idea” of funding a stadium privately, but “quickly backed off, saying he was speaking out of frustration and didn’t think it was possible.” Checketts said Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson’s proposal of a stadium at the Utah State Fairpark “has some legs” and “has to be considered.” He added that while he has not heard of a downtown proposal, “it may work –- even if RSL can’t develop retail, housing and hotels around it” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/14).

FRUSTRATIONS MOUNT: Checketts also said that he “would sell the team before moving it.” Checketts, on his efforts to build a soccer stadium: “These kind of enterprises take a combination of public and private money. I’m sure you’re getting sick of hearing me say that, but that is the reality” (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 7/13). Checketts also said of remaining at the Univ. of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium, “There is no scenario where we can continue playing there” (DESERET NEWS, 7/14). During an interview on Salt Lake City’s KZN-AM, Checketts said, “If we don’t have a result by [August 12], I don’t think I’ll have any choice but to put the team up to the highest bidder” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/14).

MILLER TIME: After Checketts accused Jazz Owner Larry Miller, his former boss, of sabotaging the Sandy stadium plan, Miller on Thursday said, “I was really surprised when he said it feels personal, and I don’t know why he said that.” In Utah, Brad Rock writes Miller “claims to have even shared information with various civic leaders on how he financed the Delta Center so they could gauge the viability of a soccer stadium.” But Checketts said, “I don’t regret the comments. What I find fascinating is that he could deny this. I have it on perfect authority that he lobbied legislators. ... He did not want me to get a better deal than he did at the Delta Center” (DESERET NEWS, 7/14).