Voice of Utah

Has there been a local business figure with a longer string of P.R. gaffes than Dave Checketts? Maybe, but not in recent memory. I remember when it first came to light that Dave Checketts was involved with a group looking to land an MLS franchise in Utah. "That's great!" I told the excited employee who rushed in with the news. "He knows what he's doing, and he's already got a reputation here." If Checketts was involved, this would be a well-run franchise, I figured. I authorized the purchase of season tickets for the inaugural season (and the next one) for my company. I tried to watch games on TV and read about them in the paper so that I could discuss them with my enthusiastic co-worker. I agreed to go to a game so that he could help me understand the rules better.

Funny how things change. For both of us VoU bloggers, Dave Checketts has gone from "Good choice!" to "I don't believe a word that comes out of that man's mouth." On KSL's Nightside Project this evening, Dave Spatafore, co-chair of the Salt Lake Athletic Complex, said that Checketts used a "four-letter word" (G-I-F-T) when discussing the team's $7.5 million contribution for youth soccer fields in Rose Park, and we don't recall Checketts ever correcting media reports that echoed that impression. In contrast, Real Salt Lake CEO Dean Howes said no, it's not a gift, and RSL won't hand over the $7.5 million letter of credit until it gets its way works out "the details" on naming rights, concessions, etc. Here are the Trib story that sparked the latest debate and KSL's version.

We don't know whether RSL's demands are new or not. (Apparently, everyone agrees that RSL didn't share these "details" with the Utah legislature before it rushed through RSL's $35 million gift in February, but frankly, the legislators didn't ask, and most of them wouldn't have cared, anyway.)

All we know is that a large segment of the public wouldn't view Checketts as a sleazeball if he was more up front about what he's really doing. Remember the old "will this involve any tax money" questions that Checketts refused to answer until after the November 2005 election? Checketts knew all along that they planned to siphon off county hotel taxes, but played coy until after Sandy's mayor was safely re-ensconced in office. (By the way, Dave--remember when you said this deal wouldn't cost "Utah taxpayers" anything? I know you're a man of your word, so where do I send the bill for the hotel rooms I rent for out-of-town clients and family? I've got a stack of receipts here that include the hotel taxes that I paid; I just don't know who's going to write me the check.)

For some of us, our biggest problem with the Real Salt Lake is all the back-door dealing. Perception is reality, and the perception for many people is that Checketts waits until he attains his immediate goal (Dolan's re-election; the $35 million), and then it's, "Oh, by the way..." It alienates people who might otherwise be willing to give RSL a chance.

P.S. We have a suggestion for your soon-vacant P.R. position: The Nightside Project's Ethan Millard does a great job of making your case for you.

P.P.S. If you want to see the memo that Checketts gave the legislature that omits any mention of these latest "details," check out the most exhaustive resource on RSL issues on and off the field, the RSLFM Report.