RE-POST: Major League Soccer Leaving Utah Makes Utah Look Bad

I found this post in some old archives tonight.  I thought perhaps it was timely to bring it back with RSL winning the MSL cup tonight.  As I recall, there were several readers who disagreed with me.  While winning the MSL cup doesn’t mean I am totally right, it does certainly help my argument.  What are your updated thoughts?  I believe this was from an old post several years ago…

*****************

If Real leaves Salt Lake and is sold to another city outside of Utah, it will be a drag on the State.  Perhaps there will be an 11th hour deal to take the team to downtown Salt Lake or into Utah County.  Either one of those is a better option then losing the team.  Here is why:

• Utah has the Jazz, but that is pretty much it.  Although I don’t watch or like professional soccer that much, I realize a lot of other people do.  Besides, the more entertainment options the better and a professional soccer stadium is another venue for concerts and such.
• I don’t know if I think Dave Checketts is the greatest guy in the world, but I can guarantee you he and his financial backers have more financial knowledge then the Mayor of Salt Lake County.  I can also guarantee you that they will have a lot more money to lose in the deal then the County would.  With that in mind, I will always trust private enterprise and entrepreneurs before I will trust the government or politicians.
• The whole thing wreaks of bad politics to me.  It sure sounded like they had a deal a few months ago.  Ground breaking ceremonies, public pat on the backs and atta-boys made it seem like the deal was done.  Now that a private company evaluated the deal and said it didn’t pencil, the Mayor says it would be “irresponsible” to invest the money.  Really?  The decision to invest seems like it should be viewed thru a bigger lense then the results of one third party report.  Besides, according to the newspaper this morning, the third party reported a $7M shortfall which Checketts offered to cover himself – so if it is going to break even now, or better, why wouldn’t the county keep the deal?
• Salt Lake looks like a strange place to a lot of people outside of the State.  Sure, we have Sundance, we did the Olympics right and everyone loves our snow and Moab.  But for the most part, people think Utah is a weird state.  I couldn’t disagree with them more, but unfortunately it is what it is.  The fact that we can’t keep a major league soccer franchise does not help our reputation.  A lot of smart, talented people are really into soccer and having a franchise here gave them a team to cheer for and an opportunity to find more culture here in SLC.
• It will be good for the city.  It will make money.  I think it will be a financial success and a good investment.  Of all the CRAP that tax dollars are wasted on, a nice stadium that will house a professional sports team and great entertainment events (backed by a team of successful entertainment and sports executives) sounds like a good idea to me

What do you think???  I am curious what others feel about the direction the stadium might go…