Big day for Utah's 'other' professional sports teams
Brad Rock
Wednesday, in separate but equal news conferences, the Arena Football League team and the Major League Soccer club stated their cases.
RSL's was easily the splashiest of the two. The club announced it will host the 2009 MLS All-Star Game and offered media tours of its almost-completed stadium in Sandy. The event turned out to be part photo-op, part pep rally, with a dash of politics for good measure. Several dignitaries were there, including Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis, Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan, MLS President Mark Abbott, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and RSL owner Dave Checketts.
You could just feel the vibes.
Whether that was coming from the gravel trucks below or somewhere else was hard to tell. But either way, it was an effective display. The grass was already a resplendent green, as the sprinklers chick-chick-chicked away. The 20,000 or so red chair seats were neatly bolted in place.
All in all, it looked like a place awaiting an event.
"This is now a living, breathing facility," said Checketts.
Although RSL's new home will be primarily for soccer, team officials are taking a broad approach. They 're hoping to host 40-50 events a year, 16 of which will be Real games. Among the proposed alternate uses: prep sports, graduations, weddings and concerts. Checketts has even considered bringing his other team, the St. Louis Blues, to the stadium to play on an ice sheet.
"Our theme on the stadium is that there's no such thing as a bad idea," said one spokesperson.
Many Utahns believe the stadium itself is a bad idea, but that's an old story. The building is up and the paint is drying.
All it needs now is its healthy dose of gold/maroon/blue-clad fans, and it's officially in business.
"This looks like it could be here for 100 years, and it will," said Checketts.
Meanwhile, 15 miles north and two hours later, the Blaze announced the hiring of Ron James as their new head coach. Team owner Robert Garff, who made his money selling cars, noted that hiring James, formerly a Blaze assistant coach, was like buying a car.
"We always like the customers to take demo rides. It gives them the opportunity to see if they like what they see," said Garff.
He added that they have already test-driven James, who was a Blaze assistant for two years.
The former Las Vegas Gladiators head coach beat out about 50 candidates, promising relentless work, attention to detail and strong discipline. Blaze officials talked about bringing championships to their fans.
Recent comments
completing its 22 year, Arena Football is hardly a flash in the pan...
d.w. | July 11, 2008 at 8:42 a.m.
RSL and the Blaze are both minor league regardless of who you support...
Minor League | July 10, 2008 at 10:04 p.m.
If we want more than what we have right now, we need to support the...
Ben H. | July 10, 2008 at 5:36 p.m.
