Lawmakers in Utah could be providing Real Salt Lake with another last-ditch effort to secure the funds needed to build a soccer stadium in Sandy. A new bill was placed on the floor of the state’s House of Representatives that would see $26 million of Salt Lake County’s hotel-tax revenue over the next 10 years diverted towards … well, something-not necessarily a soccer stadium. Some argued that the funds should be used for parking and traffic projects; others mentioned a boxing ring. House Speaker Greg Curtis didn’t rule out funds going toward the Real stadium project.
Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr. on Thursday said “all the options are [still] on the table,” including a soccer stadium, which those the supporting the initiative understand is tantamount to keeping Real Salt Lake in Utah. Many politicos believe lawmakers would create a sports commission to receive state money and administer projects like a stadium that would receive such money.
It now looks like it will either be Sandy or St. Louis for Real Salt Lake. Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson and Gov. Huntsman are believed to desperately want the team to stay. The new bill looks to be Salt Lake City’s final shot (although we’ve heard that before), as RSL owner Dave Checketts is already believed to have a buyer in mind in St. Louis.