Real Salt Lake and the Governor of Utah are coming together tomorrow to announce something big, or as the league’s website calls it a “historic RSL Stadium announcement”.
What is this announcement about? More than likely its all about a big named stadium sponsor. Probably one similar to the Toyotas, Home Depots, and Pizza Hut Parks of the league.
EDIT: Sounds like they will be hosting the 2009 MLS All-Star Game! Don’t know if that’s the only part of the announcement but its a good bet that they could still announce the stadium name too!
Previous talk surrounding the naming rights deal with the stadium, RSL owner David Checketts was looking at some big sponor numbers for the new digs. Checketts and RSL were in negotiations with three major corporate sponsors who are interested in naming rights to the stadium. Word has it they turned down a couple offers already as well.
Checketts is said to be seeking a deal of around 10 years for about $1.5 million to $2 million per year. The four most recent teams to build soccer specific stadiums are bringing in an average of $1.6 million for naming rights. The high is Toronto who is racking in $2.7 million per season from BMO Financial Group; Toyota Park in Chicago is the low at $750,000 per year; Dicks Sporting Goods is paying $2 million a year for naming rights to the Commerce City stadium; and Pizza Hut is paying $1.25 million per year in Frisco for FC Dallas’s stadium.
As you can see below, things are moving nicely with the new stadium. It is still on schedule to open later this fall.
All photos via RSLStadium.com
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