Real Salt Lake Narrows Stadium Site List

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that Real Salt Lake has narrowed their choices down to two possible sites.

The locations will either be downtown Salt Lake City or Sandy (about 10 miles South of downtown). Other possible sites at the Utah State Fairpark and in Murray were ruled out.

Real's owner Dave Checketts had hoped to have annouced the site by now, but it could take him another month to decide. Also, he has backed away from his request to have half of the $65 million stadium paid for by taxpayer money.

As far as the race between the two sites, Checketts had this to say:

"It's more of a downtown versus Sandy decision. It really is complicated. The good news is that the team has had tremendous support. Attendance-wise, we're No. 2 in the league [with an average of 18,932 over 13 home games]. We have proved to everybody that this is a team that will be supported. I feel more confident than ever about getting a stadium done. I have to continue to figure out where we're going to get the political support for doing it and what site works best."

Politics comes into the decision because "the Republican-dominated Legislature may need to help the chosen city secure money for the land. That has made Sandy appear the betting favorite because its GOP mayor, Tom Dolan, is popular among Republican lawmakers, while Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, a Democrat, isn't. Plus, House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, helped devise the Sandy plan."

The article has a lot of other very useful information. Take a few moments and give it a read.