Real Salt Lake Owner Dell Loy Hansen yesterday said that the team's USL affiliate, the Real Monarchs, have "signed a letter of intent to develop" a new soccer stadium in West Valley City, Utah, according to Jason Lee of the DESERET NEWS. Under terms of the proposed agreement, the Monarchs would "lease land from the city for 40 years with two five-year extension options." Monarchs President Rob Zarkos said that the club would "fully fund construction of the new 8,000-seat stadium at a cost of approximately" $23M. Hansen said, “We plan on funding -- with our own credit and our own cash -- 100 percent of everything.” He added that the team has "pledged not to use any municipal bonds for the project and likely not use any tax-exempt bonds either." Hansen last week "notified Utah State Fairpark administrators that the club had rescinded its January proposal for the stadium development at the fairgrounds" (DESERET NEWS, 3/4). In Salt Lake City, Christopher Kamrani notes the proposal "commenced an exclusive 60-day negotiating window to finalize a deal for the stadium." If the two sides reach a deal, stadium construction is "expected to begin in late spring or early summer." Zarkos said that they "anticipate a 12- to 13-month construction cycle that could put the club -- which will play this season at Rio Tinto Stadium -- in its new home" in July or August of '16 (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 3/4).
MOUND VISIT: In Louisville, Jonathan Lintner reported USL expansion club Louisville City FC Majority Owner Wayne Estopinal had his architecture firm -- The Estopinal Group -- "design a retractable pitcher's mound for Louisville Slugger Field to aid in transition of the surface between baseball diamond and soccer pitch." Rather than purchase hydraulic lifts, such as the ones used at RFK Stadium before the Nationals built their own ballpark, Estopinal "suggested attaching four screw jacks to a motor responsible for lifting about 22,000 pounds." An Ohio-based company "constructed the retractable mound." Estopinal said that Louisville City FC "spent about $165,000" including material costs. Lintner noted a hydraulic system "would have meant paying more than $400,000." Estopinal "doesn't have doubts it can get the job done in 18-20 minutes at the press of a button -- he expects soccer franchises that share facilities with other sports may come calling" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 2/27).
