Read today's Salt Lake Tribune leader. Here's the first sentence:

"A gaggle of local politicos insists that the latest scheme for a Real Salt Lake stadium in Sandy is a good deal for Salt Lake County taxpayers. We don't buy it."

Ouch. Stay tuned — this "deal" is, again, not over yet. Does this mean no more RSL if it falls through?

 
Also: comment from board poster "neophyte:"

"Jamie, I am an unapollogetic RSL fan. I even have season tickets. Right now I am feeling pretty good with the string of wins and Jeff Cunningham showing on both the scorers sheet and assist sheets.

However, your comment on Checkett's ham-fisted way of dealing with the politicians is correct. I never understood why he laid down the ultimatum for a deal. Why he isn't pursuing the angle of community benefit is something I don't understand.

Utah has more soccer players per capita than anywhere else in the US. How having a team and a "community" facility to hold tournies, state championships, expos and use for club and local league play is beyond me. Every local league in the three local counties is bursting at the seams with players and teams needing fields to play on.

This seems to me like a good starting point for negotiations---you supply the plumbing and the blacktop and we will supply the complex. This approach may sound too simplistic and maybe I'm just too simple minded but it sounds like the locals get "open space" and parks all in one.

Checketts' threats are just that--would you leave a place where the attendance is one of the highest in the league for another unproven market? Dave, you get more bees with honey--stop the ultimatums, keep winning and take a community approach instead of a all or nothing stance."