Real Salt Lake isn't the only Major League Soccer club depending on local government to help raise money for a new stadium: A proposed cigarette tax by Ohio's Summit County to fund a new $170 million
soccer stadium was rejected Tuesday by the Ohio General Assembly without consulting outside officials or county residents, placing the prospect of funds being raised for a new 20,000-seat soccer
stadium in serious jeopardy, if not killing the plans altogether. "It's bad news, real bad news," project developer Paul Garofolo. While Ohio law permits counties to seek a tax of up to 4.5 cents
without state approval, Summit County needed a levy of 30 cents per pack to pay for the bonds issued by the county's Port Authority for the new stadium with a retractable dome. That tax would yield
around $210 million over 30 years. Garofolo said that $157 million in private development, including a hotel and two retail complexes, was dependent on construction of the stadium. "Everyone is
baffled, and we're not sure what went wrong,'' Garofolo said. Critics aren't surprised by the outcome, saying that Garofolo failed to win over local legislators, focusing instead on lobbying
Republican leaders in Columbus. The developer has until Dec. 31 to show MLS there is a firm plan for public funds to build the stadium, though Garofolo says he isn't optimistic this can be achieved
before the deadline.
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