Greg Curtis, speaker of the state House of Representatives and a Republican from Sandy who co-sponsored the bond legislation, thinks the answer for finding $60 million for the stadium could lie in legislation specifically for the stadium area. Curtis and Nick Duerksen, assistant director for Sandy community development, both mentioned that a model could be an enterprise zone in Phoenix that allowed tax benefits for businesses within the zone to jump-start job creation.

Part of the appeal of a Real Salt Lake stadium, however, is that the team is bringing jobs with it already, Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan said. Some of those jobs will be through another of owner David Checketts' projects, the College Sports Network, which is contracted to start broadcasting Mountain West Conference college games. Dolan said the network likely would relocate to office space near the stadium.

"The College Sports Network (is) the reason that I became interested in this to start with," Dolan said. "The discussions were about bringing this network and their jobs to our community — high-paying jobs to hire people locally to staff this television station."

Dolan also wanted the stadium for other events — lacrosse, rugby, games from other soccer leagues and junior league tournaments. The stadium "wasn't just about soccer," he said. It was "not just a stadium and the soccer team, (but also) all these other things."

Meanwhile, Murray has found buyers for the property it proposed for the stadium in the Fireclay district near 4500 South and Main Street. Mayor Dan Snarr said Sandy getting the stadium wouldn't surprise him. "I pretty well figured that out," he said, but wished Dolan good luck. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson did not return a phone call seeking comment. But City Councilman Carlton Christensen, whose district includes another proposed stadium site — the State Fairpark at North Temple and 1000 West — said he is disappointed Real Salt Lake appears to have chosen Sandy.

"Since they're investing their own money as well, it's pretty hard to tell them where to go," Christensen said. "I think it would have been a win-win for both the Fairpark and for them, (but) the price tag was really getting up there."

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E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com