Real Salt Lake begins clearing land for new stadium

Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake, which has been playing its matches at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, is expected to start work on its 29-acre site in Sandy, Utah, after negotiating for more than a year to win public funding.

The city gave its approval to begin demolition work on the site, according to the Salt Lake Tribune, but construction is on hold, probably until later this spring, when the city's planning staff grants final approval for the building plans.

Real Salt Lake has been told to complete a comprehensive parking-management plan at least four months before the stadium's first match. The club had planned a 4 July, 2008 opening with an exhibition match against Real Madrid.

Delays in securing funding for the USD 110 million stadium means the opening is unlikely to happen before August 2008.

"What we are starting here is really the building of a home," said Dean Howes, Real Salt Lake's chief executive officer. "That process is energizing. It reminds us that we have a place in a community, and that we have a responsibility to that community."

Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts threatened to move the franchise to St. Louis, Mo. but with the backing of Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., the legislature saved the deal in February when it channelled USD 35 million of Salt Lake County hotel taxes toward land, parking and infrastructure at the stadium site.

The stadium is expected to seat 20,000 people for games and up to 25,000 for concerts. The construction will be topped by canopies that will shield surrounding neighbourhoods from noise and light.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.