|
|
Find Downline, get $5 for each of it.
Free Register
Klik Below Banner
|
Saturday, September 2 |
|
SLC to score a soccer school
|
Real Salt Lake and Real Madrid have cemented a soccer relationship that will bring an elite soccer school to Salt Lake City and David Beckham back to Sandy.
Fresh off a trip to Madrid, RSL owner Dave Checketts said Friday he reached a 10-year agreement with the internationally famous team that calls for Real Madrid to help build a roughly $25 million soccer academy to train up to 200 budding soccer stars age 12 to 18.
In addition, RSL players will train at Real Madrid's practice facility in Spain every February. And Real Madrid will play a friendly match against RSL every other year - starting with July 2008 at a planned RSL stadium in Sandy.
Beckham will "definitely be playing when we open the stadium," Checketts pledged. The agreement with Real Madrid "gives Real Salt Lake tremendous credibility."
Real Madrid came to Utah last month to play against RSL at its temporary home at Rice-Eccles Stadium before a sellout crowd of 45,511. On game day, Beckham and other Madrid players helped Checketts turn dirt at a ceremonial stadium groundbreaking in Sandy.
Checketts, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan still are working through the stadium details and terms of an agreement that would deliver $40 million in new and old hotel taxes and $15 million in redevelopment funds to help build a $100 million, 20,000-seat venue near 9400 South and State Street.
The redevelopment funds depend on Sandy's Jordan School District forgoing some of the new property taxes that would be generated by the stadium and some surrounding commercial development for up to five years. Checketts huddled Thursday with district Superintendent Barry Newbold. The sports owner said the deal eventually would pump more money into the schools by generating more property taxes.
Newbold expects to see a firm proposal by the end of October. "The responsibility rests with the city to demonstrate how this would benefit the school district."
He said most residents contacting his office have urged the district to reject the plan. "I can't help but think that doesn't have some influence."
Checketts expects to find a resolution in time to start construction this year, a necessary step for a 2008 opening.
The year-round, elite soccer academy - which is part of the stadium deal - would include a private school and eventually dorms. Per Real Madrid's insistence, the school would emphasize character development and ensure the students have a life outside of soccer.
Checketts expects the school, which would include an indoor soccer field, to attract Utah soccer talent as well as top players from around the world. He said it would start with a "male emphasis" but eventually would include female players.
Real Madrid expects to pay half the construction costs. It also would send coaches and trainers and recruit players to train here.
RSL would retain the right to sign players from the academy. Real Madrid is so advanced in its training programs it doesn't need help.
"It'll be a great day when we start fighting over players," Checketts said.
Florida is home to a similar soccer school, IMG Academy. It offers summer training camps and full-time residency programs where annual tuition tops $33,500.
Tuition has not been set for the Salt Lake City academy, according to RSL spokesman Trey Fitz-Gerald, but scholarships would be available through RSL and Real Madrid.
RSL coach John Ellinger expects a flood of interest.
''When this gets out, there'll probably be a résumé list of people from all across the country saying, 'I want to be involved in that.' '' he said. ''It's going to be a good thing, building the academy from scratch, as far as the technical level with developing players on their own.''
RSL's soccer academy could be under construction in 2007. Salt Lake City would decide where it lands. Mayor Rocky Anderson has suggested the Utah State Fairpark, about 10 blocks west of downtown, or the site adjacent to a proposed youth sports complex at 2200 North and Interstate 215. Salt Lake City voters approved a $15 million bond for that facility and RSL has vowed to kick in an additional $7.5 million.
Anderson's chief of staff, Sam Guevara, said the city hasn't settled on a location. "The whole thing with the soccer [stadium] hasn't happened yet."
hmay@sltrib.com
---
Tribune reporters Chhun Sun and Christopher Smart contributed to this story.
The elite soccer academy would:
Be located in Salt Lake City, possibly at the State Fairpark or near a planned west-side youth soccer complex.
Cost around $25 million in private money with half coming from Real Madrid.
Train 100 to 200 students age 12 to 18 a year.
Include academics.IN SPORTS: Real Salt Lake braces for Colorado challenge. Page D12 |
posted by ^%&^
@ 8:23 PM
  |
Permalink
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
