Utah House Speaker Declares RSL project “Dead”

The day after the Deseret Morning News tried to infuse a hint of optimism into the flagging Real Salt Lake stadium project, Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis pronounced the turbulent stadium project “dead.” This isn’t the first time the deal has been pronounced as such; Sandy mayor Tom Dolan said the same thing six months ago after Salt Lake County rejected the proposal. Instead, Curtis is now drafting a bill to reshape the landscape of Salt Lake County, as the tourism tax has been implemented and the funds have to go somewhere-most likely on a public transportation system for the airport or the renovation of the city’s zoo. While Curtis has conceded defeat, many think this may have more to do with politics than an inability to finally pass the measure through county legislature. “It’s not dead for us,” said Doug Willmore, county Mayor Peter Corroon’s chief administrative officer. “We’re going to continue to go down the methodical approach that the mayor laid out and see where it leads us.” Real Salt Lake’s stance: “We have every reason to believe that’s going to get done.” The march goes on.