The new terms would use less cash from county hotel-tax revenue - some $15 million over 20 years - but force the county to reimburse the state the $20 million lawmakers allotted in 2005 for parking at the South Towne Expo Center, according to state and county officials.

The state would then provide parking for the stadium.

In return, leaders on Capitol Hill could agree to kill a bill that threatens to take $15 million in annual restaurant-tax revenue from county coffers.

The changes, county leaders say, should prevent a potential property-tax hike as well as the prospect of shuttered recreation centers.

"If the war of the Legislature on Salt Lake County will end, I'm on board," said Councilman Joe Hatch, who confirmed the terms of the agreement.

Spokesmen for RSL declined to comment on the financial shuffle or whether owner Dave Checketts would accept the deal - the team still is being courted by investors in St. Louis - except to say "nothing's changed."

Checketts is due in Salt Lake City by the middle of next week for a function planned prior to talk of a stadium revival. Still, the trip has prompted speculation that a formal announcement on Sandy could come by Friday.

At the same time, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is making a final pitch for the Utah State Fairpark. A resolution is on the City Council agenda Tuesday that would front RSL $8 million to place a stadium at the fairpark and a soccer academy in the capital.

The mechanics of the suburban stadium deal changed one day after a substitute House bill emerged to shift county hotel tax collections to a restricted state fund. Multiple bills also surfaced to create a "sports authority," ostensibly to funnel the public money toward the project.

Now, instead of taking at least $26 million from the county over 10 years, the plan calls for $15 million spread over twice that length.

"I am grateful that they are trying to minimize the pain to the county," said County Council Chairman Mark Crockett, who predicted the parking-money swap will be approved by the county on Tuesday.

Crockett notes the deal is similar to the one rejected by county Mayor Peter Corroon, "but it front-loads it a little bit."

And on the plus side, he notes, "the state will finally have said what they really meant."

Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan and members of the Sandy City Council huddled this week with Dean Howes, the team's CEO, to reiterate the southeastern Salt Lake County city's commitment to the project. Dolan expects the team to settle in at 9400 S. State St. if legislators indeed plug the funding gap.

"All indications that we've always had from Real is [that] Sandy is their preferred site," Dolan said, noting the team already has invested in property and demographic research for the location.

If the team decides to build, Sandy still will provide up to $15 million - generated from property taxes at the stadium site - to cover infrastructure costs, Dolan said.

Sandy can offer $10 million or $11 million toward the $110 million stadium, Dolan said. The full $15 million could be produced if the stadium expands to a $135 million project, complete with a hotel and broadcast studio.

"Nothing has changed for us," Dolan said. "I don't think our commitment was really in question. [But] the way that Real has been treated - they wanted to make sure we were still there."

Sandy Council Chairman Dennis Tenney said he expects the fate of the stadium - in Sandy or St. Louis - to be decided by the middle of next week.

"Next week is going to be very, very important in making this a go or a no-go on all fronts," Tenney said.

Despite the behind-closed-doors progress on a stadium deal, lawmakers publicly deny any involvement.

The House passed HB38 Friday that, on its face, captured county tax collections to fund a parking structure at the South Towne Expo Center, but could still be used to help Sandy land the soccer stadium.

Because of the uncertainty, 15 Democrats opposed the bill, including Salt Lake City Rep. David Litvack, who said he suffered from a "complete sense of confusion" over the legislation's intent.

House Majority Leader David Clark tried to calm the lawmakers.

"There may be an issue that deals with soccer. There may be a vote that comes up at some time," he said. "But this is not that time and this is not that bill. This deals with the parking structure."

Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, said the bill attempts to restore a deal lawmakers put in place in 2005, where some of the tax collected from hotels would cover the Salt Palace expansion, as well as the parking structure.

The sponsors of three bills that reference a sports commission or sports authority all deny the legislation is related to soccer.

But with a renewed interest in RSL from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., the state's vehicle for stadium funding appears to be chugging along full speed.

djensen@sltrib.com

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* Tribune reportersROSEMARY WINTERS, MATT CANHAM AND STEVE GEHRKE contributed to this story.