"You can't put a price tag on the opportunity we'll have today to broadcast our state for travel and tourism purposes to the entire European continent. You can't," Huntsman said. "We don't have a travel and tourism budget large enough to buy that kind of publicity."

Fans, many wearing Real red, blue and gold, cheered throughout the groundbreaking, interrupting Checketts during his speech, saying "We love you!" and "Thank you Uncle Dave!" Fans also took the opportunity to personally thank and take pictures with Checketts, Anderson and Dolan for finding a way to keep the team in Utah.

"I didn't know what was going to happen," said Robb Enger, a member of the Rogue Cavaliers Brigade, a Real fan club. "I knew that Dave was a resourceful guy, but I did not know there would be such a gathering together of all the local leaders at the 12 o'clock hour, as it were, to get this thing done. So I'm surprised and terribly excited.

"This is a dynasty here in Salt Lake."

Fans of both Real clubs also filled the seats at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday night during the game. Many donned Real jerseys and snapped pictures of the international showdown.

After Checketts announced Real Madrid had suggested returning for the opening of the stadium, the crowd went wild.

In addition to 45,511 people in the stands, Real invited more than 70 Utah political leaders to the game. On top of that, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were part of the crowd.

The Madrid game was the first for Sandy's Dolan.

"I'll have to learn the game. I really don't know soccer well," he said Saturday night. But, he added, he knows the economic value of the $180 million stadium at 9400 South and State Street.

Most locals at the game had already heard the news about the groundbreaking in Sandy and were thrilled Real was staying in Utah.

Siblings Sarah Welliver, 20, and Brian Welliver, 17, were excited they will be living close to the new stadium. The Draper residents attend every game together.

"It's awesome, close to home," said Sarah. "I'm glad they finally got a stadium and they're not moving out. Took them long enough!"

Other Utahns were not as enthusiastic.

"We were a little disappointed. We didn't like the Sandy stadium idea. We wanted it downtown," said Shane Lucas, a West Jordan resident. Lucas, a season-ticket holder, attends games with his children and wife. "It seems stadiums don't grow much in suburbs."

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com; astowell@desnews.com