Real Salt Lake and the Utah State Fairpark yesterday agreed to build an $18M, 8,000-seat minor league soccer stadium on the site of the "embattled state fairgrounds," and RSL Owner Dell Loy Hansen "agreed to pay the entire cost of construction," according to Morgan Jacobsen of the DESERET NEWS. The two parties had been "considering a proposal to split the bill on a stadium since July." The deal "would be contingent on the state extending the Utah State Fairpark's lease on the fairgrounds, which expires in 2017, for an additional 40 years." Hansen said that the venue "would offer tickets at lower prices and open up opportunities for members of Salt Lake City's west side" to attend games played by the USL Pro Real Monarchs, RSL's minor league affiliate. While attendance for MLS games at Rio Tinto Stadium is only 12% Hispanic, Hansen said that the new stadium "would tailor more to that audience." Jacobsen notes the Monarchs "would operate and maintain the stadium." The Utah State Fair "would have use of the facility for a three-week period before, during and after the fair" (DESERET NEWS, 1/27). In Salt Lake City, Chris Kamrani reported the venue "could end up costing" $18-23M. But Hansen said, "If it makes sense as a business, then it should be able to carry itself." Hansen added that if the legislature approves of the deal and extends the Fairpark lease, he "expects to break ground on the new stadium sometime in April" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/27). Kamrani noted the process "has been five months in the making after Hansen made his initial pitch." Hansen said that both sides "knew they’d need to tie up relative loose ends before agreeing to terms" (SLTRIB.com, 1/26).
