Reader comments: Real Salt Lake: A home of their own

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Yawn | 8:47 a.m. Oct. 5, 2008
Look at all the comments here. Soccor is a real hit in this town. Wake me up when anyone is interested...
Real Mad | 9:53 a.m. Oct. 5, 2008
Public funding sources (TRT taxes & RDA monies) have offset 40% of the cost of this stadium. What will be the tangible return to the State of Utah or Salt Lake County for this sizeable investment?
We'll see taxes trickle in over the next twenty years that will not equal what we as citizens were forced to pitch in.
While the powerbrokers in the State, the Legislature, the Senate and Sandy City officials enjoy their box seats game after game, event after event, most of us will come to see this for what it is, a risky sports venture that has been made more profitable to benefit Dave Checketts bottom line. Public subsidies for private enterprise are wrong!
If we are to have 50 - 60 events at this facility during the good weather months in Sandy, can you imagine how it will really be for Sandy residents in the area. I think we will see residential areas decline in value and see people moving out to avoid the persistent traffic gridlock and confusion. David Checketts will continue to enjoy the publically subsidized version of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with Huntsman, Curtis, Dolan, and Burdick.
Real Awesome | 11:00 a.m. Oct. 5, 2008
See you on Thursday....if you got tickets early that is.

Sold out baby! Apparently at leat 20,000 folks do care.

Go RSL, see you at Rio Tinto.
Comments continue below
Nussdorfer AC | 12:31 p.m. Oct. 5, 2008
Thursday is just around the corner. I'll be there with the other 19,999.
To: Real Mad | 12:42 p.m. Oct. 5, 2008
Wahhh! The stadium is here and it's not going away. Get over it. No one is falling for your lies. You can stew over this for the rest of your like if you like. Seems like a miserable way to live if you ask me. You need to do something fun like... go to a soccer game.
Re: Real Mad | 12:52 p.m. Oct. 5, 2008
Really...how much you've paid? Seems the money came from Hotel Taxes...what did you pay out of your pocket for this stadium? And you conveniently overlooked the benefits the community will get out of this, not only are there fans in Salt Lake, but in the the north and utah valley. Wake up, you haven't been hurt by this at all.
Re: Real Mad | 3:45 p.m. Oct. 5, 2008
"Public subsidies for private enterprise are wrong!"

I guess you're angry about the bail-out of Wall Street as well.

I think it'd be a good job for a journalist to investigate the actual factual return on investment made by the state and county authorities in this stadium, rather than just speculate from an informed and blinkered ideological point of view.
I paid it all | 4:00 p.m. Oct. 5, 2008
Stop complaining about the taxes. I went in and wrote a check for it all. I have proof. Go look at all your tax statements. There is not one cent added to any of your taxes for the stadium. See I told you.
20 THOUSAND | 5:45 p.m. Oct. 5, 2008
I will be one of them!
RSL FOR LIFE
Yawn.. | 5:48 p.m. Oct. 5, 2008
yawn.. to your unoriginal bashing.
Got anything else?
stucknutah | 9:46 a.m. Oct. 6, 2008
to Real Mad...
Some of your comments/concerns are well founded...what exactly is the financial benefit of having a beautiful stadium that will get the Valley limited national attention (tv and otherwise) during the season? No-one can put an exact number on that...fair enough.
But your criticism re property values is comical...you do realize that this beautiful, top level stadium replaced a mobile hoem community and some run-down businesses, right? And, have you seen the homes that are located in close proximity to the stadium? Sorry boss, but the only direction the home values in that area CAN go is up.
bobcat | 1:57 p.m. Oct. 7, 2008
The only thing I am looking forward to more than this stadium, is driving from St. George to Salt Lake this Thursday, spending money on gas, food, souvenirs, and such, pumping my hard-earned dollar into the local Salt Lake economy, along with my extra 50 cent hotel bill to help fund the stadium. Yeah, that's right, I am glad I get to help pay for this stadium! Unlike you whiners, who will probably never stay a night in a hotel in your home county and thus never be taxed for the stadium's price tag. I on the other hand will help pay for the stadium every time I make the 4 hour drive up to SLC, and I will love every minute of it!

Go RSL, see you on Thursday!
STEVE-O | 3:07 p.m. Oct. 7, 2008
I'll be there with my family and I'm ready to cheer RSL into the playoffs! 3 points will go a long way with just a few games left and a 1 point lead in the standings over Colorado! Lets make the RIO one of the loudest in the league!
Juice Box Guy | 11:11 p.m. Oct. 7, 2008
RE: Bobcat

If you are sooo worried about you hotel taxes in St George. I suggest you keep driving about an hour to Vegas where you will probably pay a lot more.

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Robbie Findley, left, and Kyle Beckerman will play in their first game in Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday. The team will take on the New York Red Bulls at 8 p.m. (Stuart Johnson, Deseret News)
Stuart Johnson, Deseret News
Robbie Findley, left, and Kyle Beckerman will play in their first game in Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday. The team will take on the New York Red Bulls at 8 p.m.