Mower said that although the public might not see it now, "this decision is one that will have a lasting impact for 10 or 20 years, especially for the hundreds of thousands of Utah youth that play and love the game of soccer."

Sources close to the deal say the team would still give Salt Lake City $7.5 million to build youth soccer fields.

Organizations whose budgets depend on hotel-room tax revenue are keeping an eye on the legislative negotiations, wondering whether directing the revenue to a stadium will hit them in the pocketbook.

"We're a little unsure what it means," said Scott Beck, director of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We're just waiting with bated breath."

As written, the bill's impact on the bureau's budget would translate to about a $900,000 annual loss. That kind of a hit could make it harder for the bureau to promote the Salt Lake area.

"Anytime you take a cut, that's not a move in the right direction," Beck said.

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Contributing: Doug Smeath, Amelia Nielson-Stowell, Nicole Warburton

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com