Chile vs Venezuela - Nov. 19th, 2024 - World Cup Qualifiers

So, my international team I cheer for most is Chile. 

(Japan and Jamaica are my next favorites.)

I don't cheer for the US, they are always too cocky. I don't like that. 

So it has been rough so far for Chile in World Cup qualifiying. They have only scored 1 point in their last 4 games and as of yesterday morning they were at the bottom of South America's table. What is even worse is with the new World Cup format 6 teams from South America go with a 7th team possibly going after the new playoff format. 

So you have to play pretty poorly to not qualify out of South America, but so far that is what Chile has been doing.

Last night though they regained a little life in their soccer boots and pulled out a victory. With that hopefully can carry some momentum into their next game only problem is the next round of qualifiers isn't until March! Good heavens, that is a long time from now.

Anyway, I will enjoy this victory for now.

Trump wins, RSL loses, the Utes throw a temper tantrum

What a week.

1. Trump wins. You had to know he was going to win, Kamala offered nothing.

Change? She offered change? Change from what, yourself? Change from yourself is Trump.

2. RSL are out of the playoffs. You had to know RSL was going to get beat, they always get beat.

Now the offseason can begin and we can all forget about soccer for awhile.

3. The Utes lose to BYU and throw a temper tantrum. I love seeing the Utes fall apart, but even I was shocked to see the behavior of Coach Whit and Athletic Director Harlan after the game. First off, with regards to the holding call that gave BYU life which led to the game winning field goal, it is part of the game. Sometimes you get the calls and sometimes you don't. But none of that matters, what matters is that the Utes scored zero points, 0 points, no points, in the entire second half. A football team should be ashamed of themselves for not scoring a single point in the entire second half. Not only that but they didn't score any points in the first quarter. All their points game in the second quarter only! C'mon Utes, you have to do some soul searching, admit you suck and move on. But now they are saying they got robbed, they are not proud to be in the Big 12, blah blah blah blah blah. 

Don't believe me?, check out the video, the press conference starts at 1:45 in the video. Oh, notice how Coach Whit knocks the chair over as he leaves the conference as if he were a jilted lover storming out of the coffee shop when he finds out she's leaving him for the new guy at work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WmJ1J38V1Y

Oh, RSL is in the playoffs I guess

I really had no idea but here is an article from KSL.

-----

RSL falls in penalties to Minnesota in playoff opener

(ksl.com 10-29-24)

Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Zac MacMath matched his season high in saves with seven and added another one during Tuesday's penalty shootout at America First Field.

Still, it wasn't enough in a playoff-opening loss to Minnesota United FC.

The temperature dipped below 40 degrees as the new MLS playoff format dictated the game go directly to a penalty kick shootout with all zeroes on the scoreboard after a chilly and somewhat stale 90 minutes.

MacMath made the play he needed to with a save on the third penalty attempt from Minnesota, but Justen Glad missed the ensuing shot for RSL to take the shootout deeper into the near-freezing late autumn night.

Minnesota made its next three penalty shots, and Braian Ojeda hit the crossbar for a miss on the sixth RSL attempt for a 5-4 shootout loss.

"We gave ourselves a really good chance to win this game," MacMath said. "And obviously fell short."

United entered the day as one of the hottest teams in the league with four wins in five straight unbeaten matches and brought the fight to AFF with a lead in both total shots and shots on target. Keeper Dayne St. Clair proved a worthy opposite to MacMath in goal with six saves of his own.

The Minnesota defense frustrated RSL's advances throughout the game with a five-man "low block" that made it difficult to find spaces in the final third of the field.

Head coach Pablo Mastroeni said the team just needed to "make plays" and lamented that "you can't tactic your way into the back of the net."

Diego Luna had the best chance of the evening for RSL just 13 minutes in but St. Clair got to it for his first block of the night. Luna exited the match in the 70th minute and Mastroeni said the MLS Young Player of the Year finalist was "cramping up."

Whether it was cramps or the lack of goals, Luna's frustration was evident as he kicked over a cooler of drinks on his way to the RSL bench. Minnesota has now held RSL to zero goals through the last two meetings between the two teams, dating back to another 0-0 draw on Oct. 2 near the end of the regular season.

"We'll go back to the drawing board and just figure out ways to get guys in dangerous areas," Mastroeni said of the offensive struggles. "And hopefully, you know, this weekend we'll get a goal that changes the landscape."

RSL now heads to Minneapolis on Saturday for a must-win Game 2 in the best-of-three first round of MLS Cup playoffs.

https://www.ksl.com/article/51166102/rsl-falls-in-penalties-to-minnesota-in-playoff-opener

At this point making fun of the Utes would be nothing but cruel

Look, I'm not going to poke fun at the Utes. 

I mean, there is still a big big game coming up in two weeks, BYU vs Utah at Rice Eccles. We need to take things seriously, BYU could choke. It happens, anything can happen.

But the Utes are looking rough, I mean rough. And BYU is a steamroller at this point. 

But let's just let things chill at the moment, with the election coming up and this game (I refuse to call it "the Holy War",) let's just get through the next couple of weeks and I think we will all be happier as we get into the middle of November. 

(the above video was posted just after the Utes lost to Arizona State and John Kurtz makes some good points)

Big 12 football standings.... delicious

 

First off, it has been a long time since I posted, I know.

But nothing has changed since July, I still have no idea what is going on in the soccer world and I don't care. MLS still sucks, that is a given.

Also, I still don't follow hardly any other sports. Why would I? It's all stupid.

But I had to smile this week with what is going on in Big 12 college football. The State of Utah has been turned on its head, and it has been fun to laugh at under my breath.

For some reason, even though I'm bored with most sports, I seem to listen to ESPN 700 radio a lot. At least "the Drive with Spence Checketts." Is it because he is Dave Checketts' son?, maybe. I don't know, but he does a very good job with his radio program.

Last year it was fun to listen to ESPN 700 during football season because I could feel the anguish of all Utes fans when the greatest college football quarterback of all time, or at least that is what they build him up to be, Cam Rising couldn't play due to injury but every week they held out hope that he would come back. "Cam this, Cam that, blah blah blah blah blah." They even had a segment on the radio called "Conversations with Cam" which was hilarious because the guy comes off as, shall we say....annoying? Well, he never did come back and the Utes sucked it.

Now, BYU didn't do any better so nobody could really smile or gloat.

But this year, lol.

One week in particular stands out, the week before the season began. With Cam coming back the guys on the radio could not blow anymore smoke up anyone's butt more than what they were doing. They were picking the Utes to win the Big 12, without a doubt. They were even interviewing one of the Utes players, I can't rememeber which one, but the words "national championship" came out of his mouth. 

Contrary to that they had one of the sports guys from KUTV on, I can't remember the guy's name but he has been a Utah sports reporter since forever, and he was asked if he thought BYU would go "bowling" this year, meaning they would win at least half their games in order to qualify for a bowl game. 

The guy said, "No, they won't. They are going to struggle this year, I don't see them winning 6 games this year." Even Spence Checketts was taken back a little bit by that statement.

Well, well, what a difference a few weeks makes. 

After Cam got injured by some paper cups of Gatorade, the Utes are struggling. And BYU, at least at the moment, can do no wrong. 

BYU is ranked number one in the Big 12, where the Utes are, well, so far down you have to scroll once or twice to get to 'em. 

It has been delicious to watch. I even scared myself a little last Sunday as I giggled with delight at the hightlights of Arizona stomping on the Utes in Rice Eccles, the place where my flags once flew. My laugh was uncontrolable, almost sinister. It reminded me of the Joker's laugh from this deleted scene from"The Batman." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZNWLGL_CxI

"You think they deserved it, you think they deserved it!"

So, I know there are still many games to be played, but at least for now, let's all raise our paper cups of Gatorade and give thanks.

Utah Royals in last place, in danger of being relegated

Oh dear, the Utah Royals are in last place. You know what that means, relegation.

Down to the minor leagues!

Somehow you knew this was going to happen though didn't you. 

Why must we continue with this charade? 

Amy Rodriguez out as Utah Royals head coach, along with team president

(ksl.com June 30, 2024)

Utah Royals FC announced changes to its club leadership Sunday, with head coach Amy Rodriguez and president Michelle Hyncik relieved of their duties.

Newly-hired Belgian assistant Jimmy Coenraets has been appointed as the team's interim head coach. Goalkeeper coach Maryse Bard-Martel has also been released from her position.

"This expansion season has been full of lessons and learnings, and we are now focused on reorganizing leadership efforts on and off the pitch," Real Salt Lake President John Kimball said in a statement. "We are grateful and appreciative of Amy, Michelle and Maryse and their efforts in helping re-introduce the Royals to Utah's incredible fans and the international soccer community."

Rodriguez was a first-time head coach after captaining the previous iteration of the Royals as a player and serving as an assistant at her alma mater, USC, in 2022. Hyncik will move to a legal role with Blitzer Family Office, the company of part-owner David Blitzer.

Kimball will oversee business operations for the Royals while the organization "spearheads the search for a new URFC president."

Utah lost 11 of its first 15 games in the team's return to the NWSL, with Saturday marking its second 0-0 draw of the season.

https://www.ksl.com/article/51057034/amy-rodriguez-out-as-utah-royals-head-coach-along-with-team-president

USMNT loses to Uruguay, crashes out of Copa América

(sports.yahoo.com 7-1-24)

The U.S. men’s national team crashed out of the 2024 Copa América here on Monday after losing a full-blooded fight.

It squared up to Uruguay, Group C’s most powerful puncher. For an hour, it neutralized one of the Copa’s most impressive contenders thus far. It endured bruising physical duels. In moments, it looked capable of winning.

What it needed, though, was to score.

Over 90 tense and frantic minutes here at Arrowhead Stadium, it never did.

Instead, it conceded a controversial second-half goal to Uruguay’s Mathías Olivera — which appeared to be offside, but was confirmed by a video review - and lost 1-0.

Panama, playing simultaneously, beat Bolivia 3-1, leaving the Americans in a distant third place and eliminated.

At the final whistle, some players sunk to the ground; others keeled over at the waist; others just stood there, defeated and dumbfounded.

In the end, though, it was their previous match that cost them. They arrived in Kansas City wounded and reeling, beaten by Panama and pushed to the brink in Group C. A week ago, it appeared so simple; suddenly, failure lurked in the bowels of Arrowhead, ready to pounce if the U.S. couldn’t beat Uruguay, a flyweight giant of the sport.

“We have to go and play the best game of our lives,” Christian Pulisic said Thursday.

On the eve of the Uruguay showdown, he amended that statement; it was hyperbolic; “maybe I was a bit emotional,” he said. But the size of the task and the stakes were clear. “We have to play a really strong game,” Pulisic said.

Thirty hours later, they tried.

In some respects, they did.

But Uruguay was stronger. Uruguay is stronger. Uruguay was the team that grew into Monday’s game in the second half and forced the U.S. to fade. Uruguay was the team less perturbed by the physicality.

The first half was forceful and occasionally unhinged. Crunching tackles floored several players. Two — Uruguay’s Maxi Araujo and U.S. striker Folarin Balogun — exited with injuries after scary collisions.

It was also littered with sketchy refereeing. On one occasion, official Kevin Ortega whistled for a foul on U.S. defender Chris Richards, and whipped out a yellow card — then tucked it away to allow Uruguay to play advantage. The resulting chance nearly yielded an opening goal, but Tim Ream scrambled back to clear.

The U.S., in general, matched Uruguay’s intensity — which was no easy feat. The Americans were better for the opening 30 minutes, a minor victory on its own given the strength of Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguayan team.

But, as has been the case far too often under head coach Gregg Berhalter, they couldn’t find a goal. They created just 0.3 Expected Goals to Uruguay's 1.3.

"I mean, we had a good start and brought a lot of energy," Pulisic said postgame, "but at the end of the day, just not enough quality. I felt like we gave it everything, but we just couldn't find the solutions to score."

Once Panama scored in the 22nd minute against Bolivia in Group C’s other match, the U.S. had to conjure some quality; it had to create something.

For a few brief second-half minutes, Bolivia gave the USMNT life. The Bolivians equalized against Panama. Had both games ended in a draw, the U.S. would have snuck through to the knockout rounds on goal differential.

But less than a minute after Bolivia's goal was confirmed by a video review, the U.S. conceded on a set piece.

Panama later scored a second to go back ahead, and then a third.

Uruguay maintained control, saw out its 1-0 win, and sent U.S. players trudging toward their locker room to confront failure, toward Copa América exits.

They trudged, crestfallen, shattered, despondent, earlier than anyone expected. Many had been asked in the preceding weeks about expectations and benchmarks for the Copa; external assumptions were that a quarterfinal berth would be acceptable and a semifinal successful, but some players went further: Why not try to win it?

Few seemed to even consider a group-stage flop. It was so far beneath the USMNT’s apparently inflated sense of self. And it would so clearly constitute colossal disappointment.

But it happened, and now all eyes will turn to what happens next. They’ll turn to U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker, and to Berhalter. A majority of fans and pundits now seem to agree that he should be fired. Will he be? If so, who will replace him? And if not, how will he and the USMNT respond?

A mostly-under-23 team will head to the Paris Olympics later this month. But for the full USMNT, the next 18 months will be relatively barren. There will be monotonous, low-profile friendlies. There will be tiresome regional competitions.

This Copa América fracaso will hang over all of them, because this was the tournament that was supposed to elevate the program; this was its stepping stone toward the 2026 World Cup in North America. Instead, the U.S. will enter 2026 with approximately zero evidence that it can hang with the elite of international soccer and contend.

https://sports.yahoo.com/live/usmnt-loses-to-uruguay-crashes-out-of-copa-america-230001552.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJdyLZ87TfAuX-bH-siB3XgyP-PFcOXzaqs3uW7H062zCVZ14AV7neS2PPRAmTGAlSYXhpifHCaJNNcay7Hz7UCpMKFgz20oTgHe-MZqPBPsL2z-cLfBfYolJVArGtc-qL4NHZQIUCLm-mQ-7EfbTiwqLkuAQJQbmYU4egROTe3M

Ouch! You have got to be kidding me

What the hell? RSL knocked out of the Open Cup by who?, New Mexico United?

Why am I not surprised?

(ksl.com 5-8-24)

New Mexico makes RSL 1-and-done in Open Cup with 4-2 loss

Real Salt Lake was eliminated in the Round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday in New Mexico after making it all the way to the semifinals last year.

USL Championship side New Mexico United took it to the No. 1 team in the MLS Western Conference early on their home turf of Isotope Field with two goals in the opening 20 minutes and a 3-1 halftime lead.

"We completely tuned out," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said of the early goals. "The emotion is like, 'Poor me,' and when you operate from that space, you can never think reasonably."

Fidel Barajas got his first goal in an RSL uniform for the lone score in the first half, and Diego Luna got the second-and-final goal for the Claret and Cobalt in the 49th minute.

Luna's strike just minutes into the second half made it a single-score game, 3-2, but Jacobo Reyes ended all hopes of an RSL comeback with New Mexico's fourth goal in the 85th minute.

RSL made six changes to its starting lineup in its first Open Cup fixture, granting Zavier Gozo, Tommy Silva and Philip Quinton their first starts at the club.

"I think Fidel and Luna in particular did really well," Mastroeni said. "I think Tommy Silva did a good job and Gozo helped create that first goal before he got knocked in the head. So from that part, I think there's some experience gained."

Leading scorer Chicho Arango came off the bench in the 82nd minute to try and find an equalizer, but Reyes shut that door three minutes later as the second-division squad secured a win in its first-ever matchup against RSL.

The schedule doesn't get any easier for RSL following the loss, traveling to the third-place team in the West on Saturday in a classic clash against the LA Galaxy.

https://www.ksl.com/article/51007183/new-mexico-makes-rsl-1-and-done-in-open-cup-with-4-2-loss

Utah NHL hockey team names... I had to chuckle

So I went onto the website for the Utah's new NHL hockey team because I heard you could vote for the team name.

That is a good way to get the fans involved so I applaud their effort. The only bad thing is you are getting the fans involved and if the fans want a dumb Saturday morning cartoon kind of a name you might just get it. 

On the other hand, had Dave Checketts let the fans decide on the name for the new soccer team back in 2005 we would now be cheering for the Salt Lake City Highlanders instead of Real SL. 

Remember, nobody liked the name "Real Salt Lake" when it was leaked in the SL Tribune that that was one of the names Checketts was considering. (The others were the Highlanders, the Alliance, and Glory.)

Everyone liked Highlanders, but Checketts wanted to try and woo Real Madrid into a partnership, tv deal, etc. etc. So Real Salt Lake it is.

Anyway, back to hockey.

Most of the names are awful. "The Frost, the Blast, the Fury" Ugh... lame.

But I had to chuckle a little when I saw one of the names, the Utah Freeze. 

Do they not know we've had a Utah Freeze before? 

C'mon man, indoor soccer !!!

I went to a few of their games over their 3 year existence. It wasn't bad, it was indoor soccer, so what can you expect. 

Their attendance was pretty good though, averaging 5,700 roughly a game. 

Hopefully nobody votes for that name, let the Freezz always be Utah's indoor soccer legacy.

Back to hockey, I voted for "the Mountaineers, or the Black Diamonds."

You can't say those are Saturday morning cartoon names. I got a bad feeling though we will end up with a cartoon name. We shall see.

If you want to vote, go here: https://nhlinutah.com/

So the talk of new arenas has died down... bummer

So now they are going to remodel the Delta Center for the new hockey team instead of building a new arena.

On one hand that is great news. Some of these politicians and millionaire-billionaire sports franchise owners get drunk on their own ideas of spending our tax dollars on crap we don't need. Remodel the Delta Center? yeah, I can see that and justify that. 

Build a new arena? nah, c'mon. The Great Salt Lake is one or two bad years of snowpack away from disappearing and you want to spend your energy on dreaming of new sports arenas. Wake up! 

Now, on the other hand, I am kind of bummed. I was hoping with all this talk of building new arenas, (don't forget they are still trying to woo a new Major League Baseball team to Utah), I could present a plan to Salt Lake City and the legislature to get a bullfight arena built to help vitalize the city. 

I mean, it would be perfect. 

They are talking about revitalizing the Rio Grande area and building a new train station and all, maybe even one underground. They could put a Plaza de Toros right by the train station, just like they have in Valencia Spain. It would be perfect.

 

I can just picture a beautiful Plaza de Toros in an old Spanish architecture style right down there by the Rio Grand train station welcoming weary travelers to our bustling city.

We could hold a Spring Fair like Sevilla does in April and have a week of bullfigths, in July just like Pamplona we could do a running of the bulls through the streets of Salt Lake City in celebration of the 24th, and in the fall as the leafs are changing color and the weather is perfect in Utah we could have a Feria de Otoño like Madrid and Zaragoza and have a week of bullfights then too. The possibilities are endless.

And if the animal rights activists get their panties all in a knot like they probably would we could make the bullfights "bloodless bullfights" like they do in California. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/bloodless-bullfighting-a-portuguese-tradition-kept-alive-in-central-valley/

And these wouldn't be amateur bullfights, we would get the biggest and best matadors. Do you know the most popular bullfighter in the world right now, and has been for the past few years, is a kid from Peru?  Andrés Roca Rey. 

He just had a very successful performance in Sevilla on April 20th where he was carried out "la Puerta del Principe" after cutting ears from both of his bulls that day. 

I mean, we could get him here, the Peruvian community would go crazy. It would be so awesome. We could tie it all together and have a huge Latin America festival with bullfights as the center piece. Sure, we'll have dances, concerts, farmer markets as part of it, but the bullfights will be the most important part.

But no, now that they have decided to be somewhat fiscally responsible and not build a new hockey arena I'm going to have to forego my dreams of having a world class Plaza de Toros in Utah. 

Hmmmm..... wait a minute. 

Ogden is kind of a dump, always has been. I know, I grew up there. 

They could use some revitalizing down and around the train station on Wall Ave. 

We could still do a running of the bulls through the streets of Ogden for the week of the 24th of July! 

This has possibilities !!!

Keep your calendar clear Roca Rey, I will get you to Utah yet to fight some bulls.

No new arena? Ryan Smith reveals new vision for Delta Center

(ksl.com 4-19-24)

Ryan Smith envisioned a new arena being constructed when he set out to bring in a National Hockey

League franchise to Utah, but that vision hit some snags.

There wasn't much land for a new arena in downtown Salt Lake City; and while he looked for land "south" of Utah's capital, following a trend in sports of relocating stadiums to the suburbs, there wasn't much support there from state or local leaders.

Smith, who finalized a deal to acquire and relocate the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, was left to reimagine his initial vision.

His new plan — now that the NHL in Utah is a reality — is to remodel the nearly 33-year-old Delta Center and instead focus on ways to improve the city experience around the arena. It will also keep the Utah Jazz, the other team Smith owns, in downtown Salt Lake City.

"The entrance of the experience for this downtown isn't when you come in the door, it actually starts in the blocks surrounding," he said. "That's way more important to me than building a new arena."

Remodeling the Delta Center

The switch from considering a new arena to a revamped arena started with pushback from the Utah Legislature and local leaders, Smith explained during an introductory press conference Friday afternoon. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also weighed in on stadium discussions.

But the biggest turning point may have come last week.

Smith said he was presented with a plan to remodel the interior of the existing Delta Center, which helped him stick with the new vision.

Interior renderings have not been released yet, but he said the plan would fix the arena's sight lines issues and bump the seating capacity to about 17,500 people — a significant boost from the 10,400 seats that were made available during NHL preseason games played at the arena in recent years. What's more, he said it wouldn't change the Jazz experience that much.

"We're using new technology to figure out — specifically on the ends, behind the hoops and behind the goals — to be able to turn from hockey to basketball, and back and forth," he said. "I'm actually super excited about it. I think it will be an improvement on the arena; it'll be an improvement of the fan experience."

Those adjustments would come "in relatively short order the next couple of years," according to Bettman, who has seen the proposal.

The vision, Bettman said, appears to be much less controversial than a brand new stadium, something that held up the Arizona Coyotes for years before this week's sale and relocation.

"I've been assured by a number of the local leaders that we'll have no arena drama. Based on where we came from, I'd prefer no arena drama," he said with a chuckle.

Minimal construction is expected to take place this summer to prepare for having a second home team in the arena. This would include a new locker room for the new NHL team. A genuine remodel of the arena could begin as early as next year, but that may depend on what happens between local and state leaders over the part of the project Smith says he's now more invested in.

A reinvestment zone

Friday's update comes after Smith Entertainment Group applied to partner with Salt Lake City on a downtown "revitalization" zone on April 4. It launched what will be a series of processes outlined in a bill that the Utah Legislature passed this year to set up the zone.

The legislation allows for a district of up to 100 acres in downtown Salt Lake City surrounding an NBA or NHL arena.

The group's proposal has yet to be publicly released; however, Smith dropped some hints on Friday about what is included. He said he would like to see more residential spaces surrounding the arena and more places for people to stick around downtown before or after a game.

He added he'd like to see some adjustments to existing downtown locations, such as the Salt Palace Convention Center across 300 West from the arena, so the whole area can "come flow together a little bit better."

The biggest hurdle is how it all gets funded. The bill authorizes Salt Lake City to implement a sales tax increase of up to 0.5% for 30 years within "the local government's boundaries" to help pay for projects or repay bonds used to make improvements within the district.

Salt Lake City Councilman Darin Mano said he's excited that professional sports is slated to remain in downtown Salt Lake City. He's also happy that Smith is interested in bringing in more residential spaces and entertainment options to the area, something that the City Council has looked at for years.

Yet that doesn't mean he's completely sold on approving the tax increase.

"Raising our sales tax is not a small thing, and I don't take it lightly," he said. "It's going to be really big, and I think (there are going to be) really difficult conversations."

If approved, the state would also sign off on any agreement. All of this would have to be completed by the end of the year.

Mano said he's not sure what happens if any of it falls apart.

Smith sidestepped that thought, instead focusing on the plan ahead. That plan, he said, goes beyond sports. He argues it's something that can help Salt Lake City as it continues to grow.

"This isn't about the arena. ... It's actually about having more flow, more energy, more passion, more activity, more arts, more education and being able to look back 30 years from now and saying that's the center of Salt Lake City, that's a center of Utah. That's where it starts," Smith said. "These are the things that we're needing to reimagine."

https://www.ksl.com/article/50986404/no-new-arena-ryan-smith-reveals-new-vision-for-delta-center

With NHL hockey coming to SLC, will RSL become even less relevant?

So, it's happening, professional hockey is coming to SLC. And with it I predict RSL will become even less relevant than it already is.

I listen to 700 ESPN radio quite a bit, at least to the Bill Riley show and the Drive with Spence Checketts. And I have to say, even though they do talk about RSL once in awhile, they are all ga-ga over the NHL coming to Utah. I can't see them taking RSL seriously once hockey season is in full swing. Nor can I see the casual sports fan caring about RSL anymore once they attend a fast-paced hard-hitting hockey game and discover what they've been missing.

And who can blame them? In my opinion, because of rampant and greedy expansion to the highest bidder, MLS and US Soccer have diluted whatever excitement soccer once enjoyed in this country.

But what do I know? I'm just a guy that lived and breathed soccer and now can't even stand to watch five minutes of a match. 

Messi who? Is he even a thing any more?

Oh, and people say it won't matter because the NHL season won't overlap the MLS season much. Umm... yes it will. NHL regular season runs October through April pretty much, with the playoffs in the month of May and the Stanley Cup in June. 

July, August, and September are the only months MLS won't have to contend with NHL. 

But of course those months are now dominated by talk of the upcoming college football season so.... yeah. 

When is the lease up at Rio Tinto stadium? (or whatever the name of the stadium is now?) How soon before we hear talk of the team possibly relocating?

Don't scoff, it could easily happen. 

San Antonio once wanted a team. Phoenix and Detroit too. 

NHL's executive committee has reportedly approved Coyotes' move to Salt Lake City

(ksl.com 4-15-24) 

Utah is a step closer to landing a NHL team.

The NHL's executive committee has approved the move of the Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City, according to a report from Sportico. The relocation vote will now go to the league's Board of Governors, which is expected to approve the franchise's move to Salt Lake City for the 2024-25 season.

The executive committee features 10 franchise owners; the Board of Governors includes all 32 franchises.

It's a complicated transaction that will feature the league purchasing the team from Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo and then selling it to Ryan Smith for $1.2 billion, according to multiple reports. Meruelo will receive $1 billion with the other $200 million going to the NHL.

While Arizona's hockey operations department — including the players, coaching staff, and front office — will be relocated to Utah, the Coyotes' name will remain in Arizona. Meruelo will maintain the name, logos and trademark as part of the deal and will be given priority for an expansion club, per multiple reports.

Meruelo will continue to pursue building an arena and stadium district with the hopes of resurrecting the Coyotes in the future. He'll have five years to get that done, according to Politico. If he's successful, he'll pay back the $1 billion for the expansion franchise.

The Coyotes will begin its Utah era in the Delta Center while a new arena project is developed in Salt Lake City. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed SB272 last month, setting up a "Capital City Revitalization Zone," which includes funding for a new arena.

"Utah has the foundation of being the next major sports and entertainment destination in the United States," a Utah Senate statement said in January. "With the fastest growing economy, youngest population in the country and a long history as a premier winter sports destination, Utah is excited about the prospect of being the new home to an NHL franchise."

General manager Bill Armstrong told the Coyotes players and coaches about the move Friday before their game in Edmonton, Canada — a move that sources have described as him "going rogue." The deal wasn't yet done, but with reports of the move being imminent, he wanted to give the team some clarity.

"I think our guys showed a lot of character in the last week," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny, who will remain the coach in Salt Lake City.

Since the relocation news first broke last week, the Coyotes — who currently have the sixth-worst record in the league — strung together two overtime wins against playoff teams.

The Coyotes will play their final game in Arizona on Wednesday at the 5,000-seat Mullet Arena. The Coyotes moved to Arizona from Winnipeg in 1997.

"How about I digest that one?" Tourigny said when asked how he'll prepare for that farewell game. "We'll figure that out. It'll be a day off tomorrow (Monday), well-earned after that long trip and all the emotion."

https://www.ksl.com/article/50981168/nhls-executive-committee-has-reportedly-approved-coyotes-move-to-salt-lake-city

Utah Legislature approves 'milestone' bill creating Fairpark district, MLB stadium framework

(ksl.com 2-28-23)

Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, appeared to fight back tears as it became her turn to cast her vote on HB562 on the Senate floor Wednesday.

The bill sets up a new Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District that will help oversee major redevelopment planned for the Fairpark neighborhood and forthcoming Power District in Salt Lake City. It also sets up the framework for state funding of a possible Major League Baseball stadium, in a move that ramps up the state's bid for an expansion team.

"This is going to change completely my community and many lives," she said, before voting in favor of the measure.

Escamilla, along with many of her colleagues, believe it's a home run. The Utah Senate voted 25-4 on Wednesday to approve second substitute HB562, less than 24 hours after the House of Representatives voted 51-21 to advance the bill to the Senate. The bill now heads to Gov. Spencer Cox's desk for final approval.

It follows a resolution that the Legislature passed last month, supporting Utah's efforts to bring in MLB.

What the bill does

HB562 sets up a few things. Once signed, it would create a new investment district this year, including a board that oversees it. The area is slated for major redevelopment with the creation of the Power District, which was boosted earlier this month by the Larry H. Miller Company's announcement that it will invest at least $3.5 billion in the area.

Both votes took place after Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, the bill's sponsor, unveiled final tweaks to the measure, giving a member of the Westside Coalition a seat on a board overseeing the district. The governor will also appoint two members to the board, as will the Fairpark Authority Board and Utah leaders.

However, most of the interest in the bill has been tied to baseball. Salt Lake City is one of multiple cities vying to bring in an MLB expansion team; ESPN reported last week that it appears Utah's capital and Nashville, Tennessee are currently at the top of the expansion leaderboard.

The bill would provide up to $900 million in state funds toward a possible MLB stadium, should Utah land an MLB team by mid-2032. A prospective MLB owner, most likely the Miller Company, would cover the rest of the estimated $1.8 billion project, oversee construction and upkeep, and pay the state a $150,000 per month lease to play in the stadium that the state would own.

This part of the bill generated most of the debate on the Senate floor Wednesday. Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, said he doesn't like the "optics of cutting taxes" for a wealthy business while homelessness, child funding, affordable housing and other key issues remain underfunded.

Others have voiced their concerns about the value that a stadium could bring since the bill was introduced. Sports economic experts have produced several studies that show stadiums don't create much of an economic impact on a community.

But Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, the bill's Senate sponsor, argues that HB562 isn't much of a baseball bill. It looks at completely revamping Salt Lake City's Fairpark neighborhood and west side.

He asserts state funds directed toward the district would essentially be covered by any redevelopment, capturing new sales tax and the increments of property values in an area. The area, he said, doesn't produce much of either right now since there are many abandoned businesses or state entities in the area. On top of that, the state could generate more from the income tax coming out of any MLB player's salary, which could go toward repaying the cost of the stadium and district if the state chooses.

The only major statewide tax is a 1.5% increase in car rental taxes that would be triggered if Utah lands an MLB team; however, Fillmore said in-state residents are exempt from this tax as long as they fill out a form proving their residency. Wilcox altered the bill this week, removing a 1.5% statewide increase to the transient room tax that would go toward the project after negative feedback from the hotel industry and lawmakers.

The bill also guarantees that "Utah" will be included in a future team's name.

One final vote

It appeared that Utah senators were slightly more welcoming of HB562 than a similar bill setting up a new arena for the Utah Jazz and a possible National Hockey League team in downtown Salt Lake City — even if the body approved both.

Fillmore said HB562 focuses on "meaningful" upgrades to three big state assets: the Utah State Fairpark, the Jordan River and Salt Lake City's west side, three pieces he believes have been "historically neglected" over time. He noted it only builds on what the Miller Company pledged to invest in the area.

"The economic, social and cultural impact of this investment cannot be overstated," he said. "As a state and as a capital city, we've been looking at ways that we can invest, restore and revitalize these areas."

Escamilla added that the bill could serve as a "catalyst" for Salt Lake City's west side communities, something that has never really happened in the area's history.

Meanwhile, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, who spoke in favor of the bill when it went through a committee hearing last week, celebrated the bill's passage. She called it a "major milestone" toward the city's MLB efforts, in a social media post Wednesday.

"Regardless, what the Millers are going to build will transform the Fairpark and Power District on our City's Westside," she wrote. "I'm grateful for our dedicated partners with the (Larry H. Miller Company) and proud of our city's key seat at the table for the work ahead."

Cox has until March 21 to sign or veto any bills from this year's session.

https://www.ksl.com/article/50933256/utah-legislature-approves-milestone-bill-creating-fairpark-district-mlb-stadium-framework

NBA/NHL arena bill as they seek 'vibrant' capital

(ksl.com 3-1-24)

Utah lawmakers have approved a bill that paves the way for a new arena in downtown Salt Lake City that could be the home of the Utah Jazz and a potential National Hockey League team.

Utah senators voted 22-4 Friday to concur with changes that the House of Representatives made to SB272 Thursday night before the House voted 50-20 to approve the measure. The bill now heads to Gov. Spencer Cox's desk for final approval.

Rep. Jon Hawkins, R-Pleasant Grove, the bill's House sponsor, introduced a substitution on Thursday that tweaked the name from a "reinvestment" to a "revitalization" zone. It also adds new language tied to downtown safety concerns, including new public safety, homelessness mitigation, transportation and parking plans for the zone.

However, Hawkins said changes don't alter the essence of the bill. It still sets up the framework for an NBA or NHL owner — such as Ryan Smith and the Smith Entertainment Group — to approach Salt Lake City and the state and agree to a plan to revitalize the area, including a new arena for the Utah Jazz and an NHL franchise.

Updates to venues like the Salt Palace Convention Center or Abravanel Hall could also be included. All government-related funds would be covered through bonds issued either by the city, county or state, on top of any private funds directed toward investment.

Those entities will now work together to produce a master plan for those changes, which would be approved by both the Salt Lake City Council and a zone committee that would be formed.

"With the Olympics coming in 10 years or so, we want our capital city to be vibrant, to be a great place for families to come and enjoy what we have to offer — not only as a city, but as a state," Hawkins said. "It brings our capital to life again."

Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, the bill's Senate sponsor, previously adjusted the bill to allow for Salt Lake City to opt into a 0.5% sales tax increase that would be dedicated to the zone if it so chooses. That's estimated to generate $54 million to $83 million annually, depending on if it's imposed just in Salt Lake City or across three qualifying cities, according to state legislative financial analysts.

He didn't debate the changes and there was very little discussion of the bill before Friday's vote. The Senate had voted 21-7 on Tuesday to advance the bill to the House before it was amended, requiring a Senate revote.

Reaction to the Bill

Smith, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson celebrated the bill's passage after endorsing it throughout the legislative process.

In a joint statement, the three said they believe the state needs a "thriving downtown in its capital city" so it can continue to blossom.

"With today's passage of the Capital City Reinvestment Zone bill, we are poised to invest deeply in Salt Lake City's downtown experience," the statement reads, in part. "There's a lot of work ahead of us, and we're thrilled to have this seminal opportunity to partner together to reimagine the downtown experience — to create a comprehensive, visionary plan that generates a vibrant, safe, and fully activated downtown."

Downtown Salt Lake City's population is projected to double in the coming years as it becomes increasingly residential again. At the same time, the trio said they believe there's an opportunity to build on existing experiences.

That includes keeping the Utah Jazz downtown and potentially bringing in an NHL team on top of other arts, culture and entertainment opportunities, including the latest Broadway shows, "world-renowned concerts," and global events like the 2034 Winter Olympics, Smith, Mendenhall and Wilson said.

"This is a great day for all Utahns and we look forward to continued collaboration toward our goal of creating an unrivaled experience in downtown Salt Lake City," they wrote.

The bill also received another major endorsement on the penultimate day of the legislative session, before the two chambers voted. Doug Andersen, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the church supported any efforts that ensure Utah's capital city "remains vibrant and attractive, both for those who live and work here as well as those who visit."

The church's headquarters, Temple Square and other properties are all near the arena and revitalization district.

"We're pleased with the potential this has to refresh and revitalize downtown Salt Lake City while presenting a safe and family-friendly gathering place for generations to come," Andersen told KSL in a statement.

SB272 was passed two days after HB562 cleared the Utah Legislature, setting up a similar structure for Salt Lake City's Fairpark neighborhood and the framework for a potential Major League Baseball stadium.

Critics of both bills, as well as scholars, are more skeptical of the bills' impact. Some residents and groups argued the bills appeared to be rushed and benefitted wealthy owners who don't need government help.

J.C. Bradbury, a professor of economics at Kennesaw State in Georgia, questioned Smith's claims about a new arena on social media earlier this week, too. Bradbury authored a study in 2022 that found little evidence to show that the stadiums provided much economic benefit based on analysis of what happened when the Atlanta Braves moved to Truist Park.

"There is little evidence that sports venues promote the type of commerce that downtowns need to prosper, and there are good reasons to think associated congestion and crime created by events hurt the area," he wrote, in response to Smith.

Other studies have shown that adding a stadium doesn't add to what people are willing to spend on entertainment, David Berri, a professor of economics at Southern Utah University and former president of the North American Association of Sports Economists, explained to KSL.com last year. He added that they can also pull people from spending time and money in another part of a city, state or region.

It appears that the governor is leaning toward signing both bills, though.

Cox told KSL.com on Friday that he yet to read SB272, but he believes it and HB562 offer much more than just stadiums. He believes both will focus on major improvements to areas the stadiums would be located in.

"This isn't about building stadiums. This is about transforming downtown Salt Lake City in a way that only happens once every 100 years-plus, and transforming the west side," he said. "Even if we never built a hockey arena or a baseball ballpark, these projects on their own would be worth the attention and the investment. ... This is big stuff and transformational in a good way."

He has until March 21 to sign or veto either bill.

https://www.ksl.com/article/50936222/utah-lawmakers-approve-downtown-nbanhl-arena-bill-as-they-seek-vibrant-capital-

How times have changed

Funny how 20 years ago hardly anyone wanted to help Dave Checketts get a soccer stadium built in Salt Lake City proper. His promises of a soccer stadium revitalizing downtown fell on deaf ears.

We soccer faithful dreamed of riding the TRAX train downtown and having a bite to eat before the game. Then after RSL had won another match we would take TRAX back home and sing songs of victory while we made plans to return and spend more money downtown the next week.

But instead the best Mr. Checketts could get was a stadium in Sandy with little or nothing to do around there. You can take TRAX if you want but what's the point when you might as well drive your car.

Now our Salt Lake politicians can't make commitments or throw money fast enough at new stadiums and arenas for downtown Salt Lake in hopes of luring a NHL and/or MLB team to Utah. (see above articles)

Yeah, RSL has made a home for itself there and many of the games sell out, good for them. 

But a sell out in Sandy isn't the same as a sell out in Salt Lake. 

But I don't even go to the games anymore so what do I care?

  

Is RSL becoming an afterthought?

I don't know about anyone else, but lately I get the feeling RSL is becoming an afterthought in the Utah sports landscape.

There was a time, back when I was a fan of soccer and RSL, that I felt like RSL held a high rank in Utah sports. That was before all the college football crap, the PAC 10, PAC 12, Big 12, NIL, Cam Rising hullabaloo. 

Recently they announced the season schedule for the Utah Royals and honestly I have to think 99.999% of Utahans asked themselves, "Who are they?"

Now they are pushing to get a NHL and/or a MLB team to come to Utah. 

I remember when Larry H. Miller tried to get the Minnesota Twins to relocate to Utah right around the time RSL started (2005) but famously said in an interview that "we'll have to wait and see how the soccer team does." 

That little quote added a lot of meat on the bone when Dave Checketts blamed Larry H. Miller for trying to sabotage the stadium funding deal for RSL. Miller didn't think there would be enough sports fans in Utah to support two major league teams that play the majority of their games in the summer.

Now, Utah's population has doubled since then so that may not be a concern anymore but still.

I had to chuckle a little when I saw this recent KSL.com article. RSL is mentioned but kind of like an afterthought at the very end.

 Millions requested to attract MLB, NHL, Olympics to Utah

The Utah Sports Commission has requested $4 million from the state to attract and host national and international sporting events.

Utah is currently courting Major League Baseball and National Hockey League franchises and the 2034 Olympics.

As Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission said, "A lot has happened in a year."

Robbins went before the Business, Economic Development and Labor Appropriations Subcommittee Friday morning.

"Have 735 events that were summer events. That's unheard of. The IOC has never seen a legacy program like we have all created here," Robbins said.

He asked for a one-time payment in 2025 for $4 million with more money to follow.

Robbins said Utah is in a coveted position locally, statewide, nationally and globally in sports.

He said the 735 summer events outside of the Olympics are largely unheard of, which sets Utah apart.

Since October, he said, more than 70 events the commission has worked on have made an economic impact of about $600 million and global media value ringing in almost a billion dollars.

Robbins said money now puts Utah at the forefront of attracting the Olympics and other sporting events.

"We're moving in a direction that I think is unprecedented in the history of Utah and sports. And sports has become such a huge economic driver — such a huge image builder — statewide for us," Robbins said. "Positions us in the global marketplace in a way that you almost can't put the dollars on it."

Robbins said this is all about vision.

He mentioned the commission is talking to representatives from FIFA next week about bringing training centers for the World Cup to partner with Real Salt Lake and the University of Utah.

https://www.ksl.com/article/50865685/millions-requested-to-attract-mlb-nhl-olympics-to-utah

Poor RSL, what will become of them?

How the MLS works