Downtown Stadium a dream?

taytay33 · 08-07-2005, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the cup

Dang, this view from Pizza Hut Park is pretty cool.

I looked at that and kind of thought about our stadium and what it would look like with the Gateway behind it.

C'mon Dave, we can do it.

I like Gateway idea too. I think that's like a PERFECT spot. And I'm sure Jamie and Luke would LOVE the commute to work everyday!!! 😛

Section 37 · 08-08-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stucki

Judging by the interview with Checketts, it sounds like the downtown stadium isn't going to happen. Despite that being his preference, political hostility to Rocky Anderson may kill that possibility.

I think Stucki is dead on about the political hostility. It has already caused major headaches for the downtown stadium movement. It may not, however, spell doom for the downtown stadium.

Political realities can change quickly and the stadium may still be a few years out.

Plus, did anyone hear the Spence Checketts interview after the Cheapo's game Saturday? On 1280, he said the stadium must go downtown, that there is no other place for it.

I was very happy to hear that.

Peter Hein · 08-10-2005, 11:29 AM

I attended the FCD vs. Metro game at the new Pizza Hut Stadium. It is not finished yet. The north goal had nothing but empty space behind it which is to be a stage. I hear they want to also put movable seats there. The rest rooms were finished to minimum capacity and the parking and entry and exit to the parking was terrible. They have a ways to go. As a stadium it can hold 20,000 and that is it. It could be expanded to double that if a second layer is put on top of the current seats. The field of play looked in tip top condition and is a beutiful field. To put a WCQ there or play name teams there such as USA vs. Mexico, RSL vs Real Madrid forget it. It could not handle the 40,000+ we had for USA vs Costa Rica. For RSL to build that type of field would be not a good decision business wise and soccer wise. The RSL stadium should to begin with be for 25-30,000 and then expandable. That means lots of parking, easy volume access and exit and definately a TRAX access. If we do not plan ahead, and create the proper envoronment and expansion capability, soccer is Salt Lake Valley will be a second rate affair.

It told you I would report. You take it from here.

SoccerPrime · 08-10-2005, 11:33 AM

Thanks Peter.
I think the PHP concept would work for Sandy but not for downtown SLC.

Stucki · 08-10-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Hein

I attended the FCD vs. Metro game at the new Pizza Hut Stadium. It is not finished yet. The north goal had nothing but empty space behind it which is to be a stage. I hear they want to also put movable seats there. The rest rooms were finished to minimum capacity and the parking and entry and exit to the parking was terrible. They have a ways to go. As a stadium it can hold 20,000 and that is it. It could be expanded to double that if a second layer is put on top of the current seats. The field of play looked in tip top condition and is a beutiful field. To put a WCQ there or play name teams there such as USA vs. Mexico, RSL vs Real Madrid forget it. It could not handle the 40,000+ we had for USA vs Costa Rica. For RSL to build that type of field would be not a good decision business wise and soccer wise. The RSL stadium should to begin with be for 25-30,000 and then expandable. That means lots of parking, easy volume access and exit and definately a TRAX access. If we do not plan ahead, and create the proper envoronment and expansion capability, soccer is Salt Lake Valley will be a second rate affair.

It told you I would report. You take it from here.

The numbers that Dave Checketts keep using is 22,000 capacity. I believe the plan is for an expandable stadium.

I posted on the 1280 thread his general comments about the stadium from an interview a couple of weeks ago.

Peter Hein · 08-10-2005, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoccerPrime

Thanks Peter.
I think the PHP concept would work for Sandy but not for downtown SLC.

You are right! and pardon a couple of my spelling errors.

Rover · 08-10-2005, 02:08 PM

Thanks for the report, Peter.

I remember some of the early drawings of PHP showed an upper deck on one side, much like the HDC. With the constuction delays, it was not built. I agree that we need 25,000 at a minimum, with a stadium designed to accommodate expansion.

I also don't like the PHP's permanent stage, since the north end will always look like, well, a stage and not a soccer stadium. The HDC hosts concerts all the time, but has a seating bowl that wraps entirely around the field.

I'm still in favor of a downtown SLC stadium and a separate training facility for RSL that includes a bunch of fields for youth/amateur tournaments. RSL must be tied in closely with local soccer community, and we can have both a downtown stadium and a facility that supports all levels of soccer on the Wasatch Front and Utah as a whole.

Dadof3 · 08-10-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

I also don't like the PHP's permanent stage, since the north end will always look like, well, a stage and not a soccer stadium. The HDC hosts concerts all the time, but has a seating bowl that wraps entirely around the field.

BUT, the HDC's field gets hammered when they put the stage on the field. If you are going to do a stage (for the $$) it is probably best to use the PHP plan rather than the HDC...

Rover · 08-10-2005, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dadof3

BUT, the HDC's field gets hammered when they put the stage on the field. If you are going to do a stage (for the $$) it is probably best to use the PHP plan rather than the HDC...

Sure, but it's not just the stage, it's the 7,000 people on the turf.

And then there's the travesty that is the X-Games held in our best stadium. Throw in BMX and multiple teams playing on the field when there's actually a field, and a portable stage isn't such a big problem in comparison.

So much for "Cathedral of Soccer."

Bridgeview appears to be following the PHP model with their stage placement.

SpiffCoug · 08-10-2005, 06:21 PM

Question. Let's say that the SPS is built in time for the 2007 season. I don't care whether it's downtown, Murray or Sandy. And let's say that the capacity is 22,000-ish. And let's say that SLC is chosen to host a couple of World Cup Qualifiers in 2008 and 2009. Would we play those at "Jason Kreis" Field? Or would they change the venue to Rice-Eccles or maybe LaVell Edwards if only for the greater number of seats available?