$20 million for a stadium, how nice can it be?

[aosthed]

Let me preface this by saying that I am happy that Salt Lake City got an MLS team, but from a recent article in the Salt Lake Tribune they estimate the cost of the new stadium to be about $20 million - how nice can that be?

The Home Depot Center cost over $100 million (sure there are some other fields around it and the cost of land in California is much higher, but $80 million difference).

The new FC Dallas home was something like $65 million...

The Columbus Crew's home cost $28.5 million.

Yikes, did I read something wrong? (hopefully $20 million is just for the land).

[bostonsoccermdl]

there is the stadium cost, and there is the cost of buiding a multi fielded facility..

Both Dallas and the HDC are more than just a stadium per se.

If you set up a parking lot and a stadium alone, it is much cheaper than all the other extras that the others entail.

[kenntomasch]

They're going to build it out of wood.

Big savings.

Actually, I can see the writer just being wrong on that, or someone just throwing out a figure. I don't see how you could build a decent-sized stadium, even in Utah, for $20 million.

[aosthed]

for Euro2004 you had some nice stadiums build between $45 million and say around $70 million (yes, I know there were more expensive ones, but at least to get a feel for what it can be).

Let us all hope they writer didn't know what he was talking about... because between cheesy name (Real Salt Lake... if it happens) and "cheap" (in both senses of the word) stadium wouldn't be off to a good start.

[Bonji]

$20 million is a low end stadium. Crew stadium is benches and was a proof on concept. I wouldn't want to replicate it. Hopefully this is the construction cost alone or something where the article author didn't understand everything. If it includes the land and design costs, don't expect too much more than medal bleachers.

[Fuego]

$20 million is a low end stadium. Crew stadium is benches and was a proof on concept. I wouldn't want to replicate it. Hopefully this is the construction cost alone or something where the article author didn't understand everything. If it includes the land and design costs, don't expect too much more than medal bleachers.


Hate to tell you but most Class A minor league baseball teams spend more than 20 million on their stadiums. 20 million for a stadium that's supposed to seat 20,000 fans is going to be bare bones at best.

[rocketeer22]

For reference:http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2409348

What does a 'blight' study do for a cost of land? And, it sounds as if at least in this particular location, mass transit will be taken care of by others.

[SoccerPrime]

Not to make this worse, but even Dave Checketts mentioned the $20 million number to build a stadium in his press conference.

[denver_mugwamp]

They must be building the stadium as part of a Habitat for Humanity project with Jimmy Carter. The $20 million is just for lemonade.

[texgator]

Not to make this worse, but even Dave Checketts mentioned the $20 million number to build a stadium in his press conference.
Maybe thats just his share of the cost and his expecting some municipality to ante up the rest. HSG is only paying around $20 million for their share of the Frisco stadium.

[Wallydrag]

The Home Depot Center cost over $100 million (sure there are some other fields around it and the cost of land in California is much higher, but $80 million difference).

The new FC Dallas home was something like $65 million...

The Columbus Crew's home cost $28.5 million.

Yikes, did I read something wrong? (hopefully $20 million is just for the land).

The HDC not only has a very nice stadium, they have a tennis stadium adjacent and practice fields. Plus construction costs are probably higher.

But even with Murray handing over the land and building roads, lights, etc, and minimal parking since the stadium is literally right across the street from the Trax station (now that's pretty Euro. Take the train, get out of the station and walk right across the road to the stadium) $20 million is still a small amount.

That'll get you four walls and bleachers. I'm not sure how you could build any luxury boxes with $20 million.

[Scottt1115]

Man, the news just keeps getting worse and worse. I hate to be all doom and gloom but this franchise is already starting to lose me as a fan. Lets review:

1. Crappy name suggestions
2. Failure to name the team, its colors, or its branding within the timeframe THEY proposed.
3. The loss of its first employee (Allred) before even starting to work.
4. Supposedly (I admit there is no proof yet) narrowing down the name to the worst of the aforementioned crappy suggestions, therby ignoring the pleas of what seems to be every soccer fan in the country.
4. Announcing a stadium budget with which you would be hard-pressed to complete a HS gymnasium.

I'd list more, but the Wizards forum is calling me away to remain a fan of their club.

[kenntomasch]

Hate to tell you but most Class A minor league baseball teams spend more than 20 million on their stadiums. 20 million for a stadium that's supposed to seat 20,000 fans is going to be bare bones at best.

Hate to tell you that's not always the case.

The Class A ballparks that have opened since 2000:

2004
Clearwater Threshers.......Bright House Networks Field...$25 million

2003
Coastal Bend Aviators......Richard Borchard Fairgrounds..unknown
Gary Southshore Railcats...US Steel Yard.................$45 million
Kansas City T-Bones........Community America Ballpark....$14 million
Lake County Captains.......Eastlake Ballpark.............$20 million
Rome Braves................State Mutual Stadium..........$15 million ($1 million under budget)

2002
Aberdeen IronBirds.........Ripken Stadium................$24 million
Brockton Rox...............Campanelli Stadium............$17 million (includes convention center)
Cedar Rapids Kernels.......New Veterans Memorial Stadium.$14.5 million
Florence Freedom...........Foundation Field..............$7 million
Fort Worth Cats............LaGrave Field.................$4 million
Gateway Grizzlies..........GMC Stadium...................$6.5 million
Joliet Jackhammers.........Silver Cross Field............$27 million
Mid-Missouri Mavericks.....Taylor Stadium................unknown
Peoria Chiefs..............O'Brien Field.................$16.5 million
Tri-City ValleyCats........Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.......$14 million
Washington Wild Things.....Falconi Field.................$6 million

2001
Brooklyn Cyclones..........KeySpan Park..................$39 million
Camden Riversharks.........Campbell's Field..............$20.5 million
Edinburg Roadrunners.......Edinburg Baseball Stadium.....$7 million
Lakewood BlueClaws.........FirstEnergy Park..............$20 million
Lexington Legends..........Applebee's Park...............$13.5 million
Lincoln Saltdogs...........Haymarket Park................$29.5 million
Staten Island Yankees......Richmond County Ballpark......$34 million

2000
Dayton Dragons.............Fifth Third Field.............$22.7 million
Long Island Ducks..........Citibank Park.................$22 million
Pensacola Pelicans.........Pelican Park..................unknown
San Angelo Colts...........Foster Field..................$3 million

And even with the higher-end ones, the team isn't spending $20 million. Most of the time they convince municipalities to pony up the bulk of it. Or, in the case of Clearwater (and Legends Field in Tampa before that) they're also spring training facilities for the big-league club.

But you're right in that it'll be hard to make anything but a bare-bones soccer stadium for $20 million.

[Blitzz Boy]

Fireclay Avenue won't need a brewpub or luxury boxes. But it will need lots of changing tables and some Bouncy Houses right outside.

How will that affect the cost?

[Rockey J Squirrel]

I belive it can be done, but then he may be quoting my old posts.
Ways to save: 1) Reclamation land/cheap lease from Govermental adjency. There are several posiblities in the Salt Lake Valley especially the Fireclay Ave. site.
2) Leverage site infrastructrure with partners and co-developers. TRAX needs parking by their stations, let them share in the parking costs. Such a site will be a supplemental parking site for Ute Football and Basketball, Jazz Basketball, Downtown events which can draw 30,000 to 40,000 if all the venues are going, even the E-Center can use it as extra parking. The parking will draw Pad busineses (donut shops, gas stations and Car Dealers)
3) Sell your soul to advertizers (bids start at $1,000,000 for the Video Screen-Scoreboard) Naming rights, (the West could be the Deseret Morning News Beehive and the East the Salt Lake Tribune {using the correct European term for seating facilities at a stadium}). John and Company for the Restrooms etc. etc. ad nauseum.
4) Build in a hole. Moving dirt is cheaper than elevated concrete concourses that must be supported by steel beams. The concouse for a 20,000 seat stadium at ground leval and all the way around the field, is only 17 to 20 rows up from the field (see the Dallas plan) and all of it can be rented for sellers and only needs to strong enough for TV trucks. The Light and Sound pollution is greatly reduced for the neighbors as well.
5) Avoid feature creep. Do comforatable seats and rain/sun shelter then quit, inspite of what "the consultants" say.
6) Don't let a BIG Stadium Arcitectural firm get their 10%.
A local code/engineer type can do it for much less. Go Design-Build with incentives. Let the Vendors do the engineering for their products such as the seating.
7) Sponsor and VIP boxes are good investments, but construct them with bankable contracts.
8) Involve fans and in-kind sponsors.

[aosthed]

I belive it can be done, but then he may be quoting my old posts.
Ways to save: 1) Reclamation land/cheap lease from Govermental adjency. There are several posiblities in the Salt Lake Valley especially the Fireclay Ave. site.
2) Leverage site infrastructrure with partners and co-developers. TRAX needs parking by their stations, let them share in the parking costs. Such a site will be a supplemental parking site for Ute Football and Basketball, Jazz Basketball, Downtown events which can draw 30,000 to 40,000 if all the venues are going, even the E-Center can use it as extra parking. The parking will draw Pad busineses (donut shops, gas stations and Car Dealers)
3) Sell your soul to advertizers (bids start at $1,000,000 for the Video Screen-Scoreboard) Naming rights, (the West could be the Deseret Morning News Beehive and the East the Salt Lake Tribune {using the correct European term for seating facilities at a stadium}). John and Company for the Restrooms etc. etc. ad nauseum.
4) Build in a hole. Moving dirt is cheaper than elevated concrete concourses that must be supported by steel beams. The concouse for a 20,000 seat stadium at ground leval and all the way around the field, is only 17 to 20 rows up from the field (see the Dallas plan) and all of it can be rented for sellers and only needs to strong enough for TV trucks. The Light and Sound pollution is greatly reduced for the neighbors as well.
5) Avoid feature creep. Do comforatable seats and rain/sun shelter then quit, inspite of what "the consultants" say.
6) Don't let a BIG Stadium Arcitectural firm get their 10%.
A local code/engineer type can do it for much less. Go Design-Build with incentives. Let the Vendors do the engineering for their products such as the seating.
7) Sponsor and VIP boxes are good investments, but construct them with bankable contracts.
8) Involve fans and in-kind sponsors.

You do all those things and sure, you'll stretch the dollar... but they'll still be putting a ribbon on a turd.

[jgoal5]

What is the cost of living like in SLC??? If the cost of living is less than in LA or NY, then they may be able to put a nice stadium together...also, if the club does not have to pay for land, that is a nice penny saved...but, you never know...

[Freddy Garcia Lives]

How deep can you dig in Utah (before hitting solid rock that has to be blown out with explosives) and what are the earthquake restrictions for something this big? I know from building houses out there that more earthquake codes have to be met than most of the country.

[soccerfan]

something very interesting i read the other day, Man United wants to expand their stadium by aproximately 7,000 seats

cost ?

68 million

[prk166]

They're going to build it out of wood.

Big savings.



Isn't the ol' Tacoma Dome built out of wood? Or was it just the roof?