Real latest news

[Frank Cunha]

neither::leedswac

[Frank Cunha]

still in a scramble for soccer stadium site
Major League: There's stiff competition from Murray as a deadline nears
By Heather May
The Salt Lake Tribune




It's already dubbed Salt Lake Real, but it's still unclear if Utah's Major League Soccer team will land in the capital city.
Team organizers hope to decide by the end of this month if shouts of "GOOOOAL" will ring out in Salt Lake City or Murray. Other cities that initially were interested - including Sandy and West Jordan - are out of the running barring a major proposal.
While downtown Salt Lake City has always been soccer officials' favored site for a $50 million to $60 million stadium, the city is having a more difficult time than its competitor assembling the property. A single developer in Murray has 15 acres for the stadium near a TRAX station at 4300 South, while Salt Lake City likely must help purchase parcels from various private property owners.
"There are more than one location inside Salt Lake City that we believe are viable," Dean Howes, CEO of Real Salt Lake, said Friday. "We just need to know the availability of those lots."
Howes, who team's name is pronounced "Re-al," said he must give an update on his franchise to Major League Soccer by the end of December. He hopes to say where the stadium will land.
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson said Friday his city has "a lot of different, really great options" but wouldn't name which parcels, fearing the purchase price would increase if they were publicly revealed. The city mainly has been focused on land west of The Gateway. There has also been talk of hotel-owner Earl Holding's property on 400 South and Main Street.
"This administration will do everything it can to make sure this stadium is located in Salt Lake City. I think the City Council, by and large, is of the same mind," the mayor added.
The city's Redevelopment Agency staff is evaluating the price of various parcels and how to pay for them. The RDA Board, which doubles as the City Council, could vote to purchase land this month.
City Council members anticipate spending taxpayer money to buy land and make improvement to sidewalks and streets around the stadium instead of putting money toward building the stadium, much like the city did in 1990 for the Delta Center. The RDA put $20.4 million toward the $80 million basketball venue, helping to buy land, build a public plaza and reconstruct 400 West.
"It's obviously going to be several million to buy the land," said Councilwoman Jill Remington Love. "I don't know if in the end we're going to be able to do it. I don't know if the money will be there."
Anderson allowed the possibility of a bond, which suggests taxpayers will also help build the stadium.
"An issuance of a bond, either by the county or the city - that remains to be seen. Ultimately, it's going to take putting several pieces together, including a partnership between the state, Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City," Anderson said.
Howes said the stadium will likely require public funding, though he stressed there will also be a "significant" private contribution. He sees the stadium as an anchor in the redevelopment of whatever neighborhood it lands. And he said the stadium would host more than the 20 Major League Soccer games, likening it to a "community center" as a venue for concerts and youth sports.
If so, it is unclear if or how the stadium could affect Salt Lake City's plans to build a multifield sports complex with an emphasis on soccer on the city's west side. Voters agreed to raise $15.3 million in property taxes for it.
Real Salt Lake will play at least its first two seasons, which start in April, at Rice Eccles stadium.
hmay@sltrib.com

[Frank Cunha]

Polling Utahns' Feelings on Major League Soccer
Dec. 3, 2004
John Daley Reporting

Major league soccer, the top soccer league in America, is coming to Utah next year. But will Utahns support it? We have exclusive new poll results from Dan Jones and Associates.

According to our exclusive Dan Jones poll for KSL-TV and the Deseret Morning News, most Utahns believe soccer will be successful here in Utah, but smaller numbers say they will attend a game.

We know the team, called Real Salt Lake, will be playing at Rice-Eccles stadium next spring. Meantime, the search is on for a location for a soccer-specific stadium. First let me tell you about new poll about the new MLS soccer franchise, numbers we have from an exclusive Dan Jones poll of roughly 300 Utahns for KSL-TV and the Deseret Morning News.

We asked, “Will you attend a Real Salt Lake soccer game this season?” A total of 13% say definitely or probably, 28% say probably not, and 57% say definitely not.

The numbers for soccer look much more promising when we asked, “Do you believe MLS soccer will be a success in Utah?” Exactly half say they think it will succeed here, 35% say no.

The CEO of the new club says strong youth soccer numbers and high interest amongst Hispanics bode well for the team's success.

Dean Howes, Real Salt Lake CEO: "The reaction from the community has been tremendous, when you see the velocity of our ticket sales. We think the community is very ready."

Meantime, the search is on for a site to build a roughly 20,000 seat, 50 or 60 milllion dollar soccer stadium. Negotiations are focusing on downtown Salt Lake, perhaps near the Gateway, or in Murray near the TRAX stop at 43rd south.

Rocky Anderson, Salt Lake City Mayor: “This league is to soccer as the NBA is to basketball. Yeah, I absolutely think it can be worked out.”

Dan Snarr, Mayor of Murray: “I’m excited about major league soccer just being in Utah. And if it’s here, that’s wonderful. And well work hard to make it work here.”

Dean Howes, Real Salt Lake General Manager: "The reaction from the community has been tremendous, when you see the velocity of our ticket sales. We think the community is very ready."

Our poll also found reluctance to use public money to fund a soccer stadium: 28% say public money should be spent on it, 64% say NO.

As for a location, 15% of those polled say downtown Salt Lake, 22% say Murray, the biggest number--37%--don't know. The clock on a stadium is ticking--and we could have site chosen by the end of this week.

The leaders of the Real Salt Lake Soccer franchise say they plan to have a decision about the location for the stadium by the end of this month. The team will begin its inaugural season at Rice Eccles Stadium next spring.

[revolutionfan]

I don't like that poll. But when you think about it, 13% of SLC attending a game would probably be a pretty good number.

[Frank Cunha]

Pierce looks ahead: Embraces his new future(s)
By Gus Martins/ Soccer Notes
Sunday, December 5, 2004

Loyalty remains a guiding principle in Rusty Pierce's life so, when he was left unprotected by the Revolution in last month's MLS expansion draft, he inevitably felt scorned.

But between being claimed by expansion franchise Real Salt Lake and preparing for his wedding next weekend in Houston to fiancee Elizabeth Stablein, Pierce also feels plenty of love.

Additionally, Pierce just returned from a 10-day tryout with German club SSV Mainz 05. The tryout was originally set for five days, so the extended interest gives Pierce a feeling that he could be entering a positive turning point in both his professional and personal life.

Officially out of contract with MLS at the end of the month, Pierce said he has had fruitful conversations with Salt Lake coach John Ellinger and general manager Steve Pastorino and is very hopeful about hammering out a contract. But, he plans to use the advantage that free agency is providing him.

``Both myself and my agent, Paul Mordarski, have been speaking with Salt Lake and we've had some great conversations,'' said Pierce. ``I had an exceptional conversation with Ellinger. He's excited about having me play there. I am as well. We are tying to get on the same page with the league. Everything has to go through the league on the other end. Now it's just a matter of coming to terms and ironing things out.''

Pierce, who has played all five of his professional seasons with the Revolution thus far, still feels a bit stung by being cast off from the only professional family he's ever known.

``For the type of person I am, I was a little frustrated,'' he said. ``I consider myself a loyal person. The thing that bothered me was I thought I gave everything I had here for five years. But they had a full year in my option year to renegotiate with me and chose not to. By halfway through the year when that didn't happen, I started to put myself in the mindset that I was ready to move on.''

Pierce said that Mainz did not offer him a contract because itwas not a good match for a straight away defender like Pierce.

``I was happy with the way I played,'' he said of his tryout. ``(But) in the end, they did not offer me a contract. They were looking for more of an attack-minded back.''

While he said there are other possible options in Germany, Pierce said he is going to do everything possible to get a good contract in Salt Lake. He's now ready to open a new chapter.

``When a club is not fully on board with you after five years, you have to prepare yourself to move on,'' he said. ``In the end, it's a business. There's no bitterness but there's a bit of disappointment.''

Dempsey denied

Another Revolution player on the move is Clint Dempsey, who spent two weeks with Feyenoord of the Netherlands. Dempsey, who said he wasn't on trial, didn't deny that the team was giving him more than a once over.

``It went well,'' said Dempsey. ``It was a good atmosphere. The pace was a lot quicker than in MLS. It was a good way to challenge myself and see where I am. Maybe one day I'll be able to go back there.''

Dempsey said it was actually the speed of thought that separated the players in that camp from MLS players.

``I would say it's similar to a national team in that the ball just gets pinged around so quick that people know what they want to do before they get it,'' he said. ``MLS is a good level. But I could tell people (with Feyenoord) were just a little bit quicker. I think MLS will one day get to that level.''

Dempsey didn't deny there was a chance he could have been signed by the team. But according to U.S.-based Web site soccer365.com, Feyenoord decided it wasn't the right time for the 21-year-old.

``Clint Dempsey is a good player,'' Feyenoord general manager Mark Wotte told soccer365. ``But he has shown too little this past week to convince us that he would bring immediate added value to our squad.''

Wotte said his hefty transfer price also played a role.

``Anytime you go somewhere to train, obviously people are going to be looking at you for the possibility of signing you,'' said Dempsey. (But) the main focus for me was to train and get the experience and future reference to see what you have to do in terms of being on your own in an environment that's totally different than what you are accustomed to.''

[gforce99]

...and so Rusty will stay with RSL...good.

[Frank Cunha]

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2496769

[Frank Cunha]

MLS approve's the deal between Utah and Chicago

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2506298

[Frank Cunha]

1

"Any team in the league would take Clint Mathis."
-- Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino, who may be adding the sophomoric striker to his team's roster. (Salt Lake Tribune)

[Frank Cunha]

hired 3 assistants
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2509026

[gforce99]

RSL will announce the allocation of Clint Mathis to Salt Lake today at a press conference in SLC at 10AM MST.

Alright!

[revolutionfan]

Originally posted by gforce99
RSL will announce the allocation of Clint Mathis to Salt Lake today at a press conference in SLC at 10AM MST.

Alright!

Can be heard on MLSNet at 3:45ET, I think.

[gforce99]

Actually the announcement itself is at 10:45am MST during a press conference in SLC.
However, at 1pm MST there will be an "interview" with the media showcasing GM Pastorino, Coach Ellinger and the Allocation (thats Clint's new name).
http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/index.jsp

[revolutionfan]

Originally posted by gforce99
Actually the announcement itself is at 10:45am MST during a press conference in SLC.
However, at 1pm MST there will be an "interview" with the media showcasing GM Pastorino, Coach Ellinger and the Allocation (thats Clint's new name).
http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/index.jsp

Stay tuned for RSL addition Thursday
Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and head coach John Ellinger will introduce the club's newest player Thursday at 12:45 p.m. ET. Fans can listen to a LIVE media teleconference call at 3 p.m. ET on MLSnet.com.

You're right.

[BethlehemFC]

Signed, sealed and delivered:

Mathis Back