Checketts promises to have plans and the location for a new soccer-specific stadium by the end of the calendar year. The plan is to have a facility that can be used for outdoor concerts and other groups as well as the team.

At least the first season will be played at Rice-Eccles, where the field is just barely wide enough to accommodate soccer and where the near-50,000 capacity makes a crowd of 20,000 look lonely. Checketts said the new stadium, which will be built with a large amount of private money, should be 25,000-27,000 in seating.

"You have to believe me. I'm taking a flying leap on this one. I don't have any preconceived notions," Checketts said about the new stadium's possible location. "I've had lots of people approach me with ideas.

"Whatever we do, we have to build a stadium that can so enhance the experience that people will want to come. Does that mean downtown, does that mean Sandy, does that mean out in the soccer complex out on I-215? All of those are possibilities, and I really don't know where it will go."

He said it's necessary to speak with city planners and check freeway access and public transportation alternatives.

"My dream would be to build a stadium that people can sit in and have a view of absolutely gorgeous mountains. When you live here all the time, you don't realize how pretty this place is. Just spend 14 years in New York, and you'll recognize what you have here. So I want to build a stadium that shows off the landscape, so you can sit here on those beautiful nights and watch a really competitive team."

Among his top partners are his brother Dan Checketts, chief executive of SportsWest' and friend Dean L. Howes, CEO of Utah Soccer LLC and vice chairman of SportsWest.

The deal to bring MLS to Utah in 2005, rather than maybe in 2006, was a coup that Checketts brought about in less than an hour maybe a month ago.

"Our initial negotiations, and even leading to a handshake, was an option to put a team in Salt Lake City (for 2006)," he said. "And literally, the day I arrived to sign the documents for an option, Seattle had come in and put in a firm bid on 2005.

"So I was left with waiting till 2006 and becoming the 13th or 14th or 15th (team). I said, 'Forget the option.'

"I said, 'I'm not leaving your office until you give me the 12th team. I want to be the 12th team,' " Checketts related.

"We had to change all the documents, bring all the lawyers back in, and I bought the team. I understand the risks," said Checketts, who apparently plunked down $1 million of the $10 million expansion fee right then and there.