1/16 News

[AreliusIII]

Cities pin hopes on lobbyists
http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_3406725

Real Salt Lake Soccer has hired four lobbyists to represent the team's interests; last year, it had none. The team is trying to build a soccer stadium in Sandy and needs lawmaker help finding a way to pay for the project - perhaps through a sports enterprise zone, ticket surcharge or redevelopment project.

Stakes are big for Utah cities at the Capitol
http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_3406718

Major League Soccer's fledgling Utah franchise is planning to build a 25,000-seat stadium in Sandy. The team played its inaugural season at the University of Utah and announced it will be building the soccer facility at the northwest side of 9400 South and State Street last year.
What team officials haven't said is how they plan to fund it.
"Either they don't know or they are keeping a very tight lid on it," Jerman said.
Team owner Dave Checketts has said the project - initial estimates put the price tag at $65 million - would be a public-private partnership, but details of how that partnership would work are still being hammered out. The public was well-represented when Checketts announced the site in October. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., House Speaker Greg Curtis, Senate President John Valentine, Bramble, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan all spoke at the event.

[the cup]

.....as lawmakers head into their 45-day session today.

I thought according to earlier articles that funding was already in place but I guess that may not be the case. This is going to be an anxious 45 days.

It's funny though, whenever I see the word lobbyist my mind changes it to loyalist.

Perhaps that is a sign. Maybe we need a group of Loyalists to storm the capital with chalk and smoke bombs in hand and hold the lawmakers hostage until they give us our stadium money.

[oussan]

Originally Posted by the cup

.....as lawmakers head into their 45-day session today.

I thought according to earlier articles that funding was already in place but I guess that may not be the case. This is going to be an anxious 45 days.

And I'll bet that good old Mike Jerman from the Utah Taxpayers Association will be there every step of the way.

But I was thinking the same thing... based upon their earlier statements suggesting that the funding is already there, this does seem a little bit like backpeddling.

Originally Posted by the cup

Perhaps that is a sign. Maybe we need a group of Loyalists to storm the capital with chalk and smoke bombs in hand and hold the lawmakers hostage until they give us our stadium money.

Nice!

[Section 37]

I love how SLC putting money in the stadium is irresponsible,

but Sandy and it's legislators putting money into the stadium is a-okay.

Hypocrites.

As a season seat holder, I resent being placed in the middle of such hypocritical political games.