RSL announces corporate reception

[AreliusII]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

Howes said he hopes Garber will carry the message of how well the league is doing and that it's on a firm foundation and moving in the right direction.

OK, everyone together now...

How firm a foundation, REAL Salt Lake.....

[AreliusII]

SALT LAKE CITY-(KSL News) -- The Commissioner of Major League Soccer is coming to Utah to stump for Real Salt Lake.

Don Garber will be meeting with community leaders to push for the building of a 60-million dollar stadium.

Real Salt Lake Senior Communications Director Trey Fitzgerald says Garber will likely talk to the Governor about a bill prohibiting the use of RDA funds for sports stadiums.

Garber is also meeting with the bill's sponsor and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon

[AreliusII]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

Garber is also meeting with the bill's sponsor ...

... and giving him a good soccer kick in the shins...

[AreliusII]

See also:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/soccer/03/15/real.salt.lake.ap/

Interesting tidbits:

"Major League Soccer's top executive will lobby government and business leaders this week for a publicly subsidized stadium."

So, this is what Garber will be doing tomorrow night...

I hope Neil takes his checkbook with him...

"the governor is reviewing the bill. Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson wants him to veto it since the measure makes it more difficult for the city to compete against Murray -- also being considered as a possible venue for the stadium."


"Murray's prospects aren't affected because land near the 4500 South TRAX stop is cheaper and the city can use a different pot of money for its contribution."


If I'm reading this right, the RDA funds would be to cover the cost of the land (particularly downtown). As far as sharing in the cost of constructing the stadium, that would come in the form of a bond...


"He also will meet with Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, who sponsored the legislation. Bramble, who wants the team to obtain public money through alternative means..."


In another place, Bramble has recommended that RSL set up a lemonade stand...

[Rover]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

Howes said he hopes Garber will carry the message of how well the league is doing and that it's on a firm foundation and moving in the right direction.

And Uncle Don is the guy to do it, since he's got the argument down to a science.

Anybody else getting tired of this stuff about the league being unstable and about to fold at any moment? It's been a recurring theme in just about every hit piece on RSL in the Utah media, and it strikes me as a ridiculously lazy position to take.

Five years ago there was reason to wonder, but not now. Expansion, stadiums under construction, Adidas contract, new investor-operators--you name it, all the indicators are pointing in a positive direction.

Politicians and media types need to do some background research before making ignorant statements.

[AreliusII]

Originally Posted by Rover

And Uncle Don is the guy to do it, since he's got the argument down to a science.

However, I must say, I think (in my humble opinion) Uncle Dave could have stated his case a little smarter in the public hearing downtown regarding the stadium. I really don't think that was the time and place for him to say, "Oh, and by the way, I'm mulling around the possibility of putting a roof on the stadium, which would up the cost to $90M total, meaning that the bond would be $45M and not $30M."

TMI.

Too much information Dave.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

However, I must say, I think (in my humble opinion) Uncle Dave could have stated his case a little smarter in the public hearing downtown regarding the stadium. I really don't think that was the time and place for him to say, "Oh, and by the way, I'm mulling around the possibility of putting a roof on the stadium, which would up the cost to $90M total, meaning that the bond would be $45M and not $30M."

TMI.

Too much information Dave.

True. That was a surprise.

[clarette]

Originally Posted by Rover

Anybody else getting tired of this stuff about the league being unstable and about to fold at any moment? It's been a recurring theme in just about every hit piece on RSL in the Utah media, and it strikes me as a ridiculously lazy position to take.

Yes!

But lazy sells, unfortunately... like those cable-news talk shows where two people yelling at each other and giving everyone else a massive headache constitutes actual news reporting.

Maybe once college gym is over, the Trib will put Lya Wodraska on some soccer stories -- she's my favorite sports reporter, like, ever.

[Jose Luis Luviano]

I can't make it to this event.

The Alta Club was formed especially so that its members would not have to associate with people like me.

-If you see Don Garber, tell him that I said thanks for everything he's done over the past few years. Don could probably go back to the NFL or to MLB or the NBA and cash in on a big pay increase. But he's sticking with us & we appreciate that.

-If you see Dave Checketts, tell him that I said thanks for everything he's done over the last year. He could have bought an Arena Football League team, but we're grateful he didn't.