There will be plenty of pressure on players and coaches when Real Salt Lake plays its first game Thursday at the team’s new soccer specific stadium in the suburb of Sandy, writes Michael Lewis. But this will be nothing compared with the pressure on what team owner-operator Dave Checketts calls the “heroes” who used their political muscle to have the stadium’s financing approved in the first place.
“Their reputations are on the line after spilling gallons of political blood in their acrimonious rescue of the stadium deal against the wishes of many angry taxpayers and a generally skeptical public still wary of soccer,” writes Lewis. “Names were called, arms were twisted. Promises were made. The stadium was pitched as vital to the economic health and reputation of the area, never mind to the ability of the perpetually stumbling team to attract fans and truly compete in Major League Soccer.”
“Now,” said Checketts, “it’s got to work. I’m proud we’ve created something like this for the community, and it’s going to be a place to really enjoy for many years.” Sandy mayor Tom Dolan called it “the most beautiful soccer stadium in the country right now, and it’s just going to be a huge plus for our community.”
City officials expect the stadium to generate $46.5 million in tax revenue over 20 years, and Checketts said the team expects to make an almost $3.5 million annual profit within two years, after losing $3-4 million a year until now. But that’s projecting 50-70 events a year for the stadium, “including about a dozen major concert acts,” writes Lewis — revenue that cannot be guaranteed in advance.