Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said putting the matter before voters now would be too little too late, because they should have had a chance to make a decision on funding more than a year ago. Stadium negotiations have been going on for too long to turn back now, she said.

Checketts said that Real Salt Lake needs to break ground on the $145 million project by August, so plans need to be hammered out fast.

Debate on the project lasted nearly two hours Tuesday as council members brought up several concerns about the stadium project: What if Checketts decided to up and move the team to another city in a few years? Rest assured, Checketts said, because he plans to raise $90 million in private dollars, which should alleviate some of the concerns.

"What do we do? We move the team with that kind of investment? No, we keep the team here," he said. But without a permanent home, Checketts said, he can't guarantee anything.

Councilman Joe Hatch was more worried about Checketts' choice of beverages to be sold at stadium concessions. "This idea of no beer is just not very good for me and for many of my constituents," Hatch said.

Checketts said he hasn't decided whether beer will be on tap.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com