Where will the team, in partnership with Real Madrid, build its highly touted elite soccer academy?

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson maintains the facility should be in Utah's capital and that to do otherwise would be "absolutely contrary to everything that [RSL] agreed to in the past."

But the team says it must explore other locales now that the city has scaled back the planned youth sports complex in northwest Salt Lake City. RSL says there's no room for the academy at a smaller park, which the team has pledged $7.5 million to help build.

"We're just evaluating our options," RSL spokesman Eric Gelfand said Monday. "We haven't made any final decisions yet."

But Jason Perry, the state's negotiator on the stadium deal, notes the agreement Sandy will vote on tonight requires only that an academy be built in "Salt Lake County."

Anderson would like the document changed to require the academy be established within his city.

"It's a good idea . . . to require folks that get public money to live up to their obligations and their promises," he said. "The only reason I supported [the stadium] and brought it back to life . . . was because of [RSL's] promise for the academy" and the $7.5 million toward a youth sports complex.

Language in the state's interlocal agreement with Sandy has been toughened to require the team to provide $7.5 million for the youth sports complex as soon as Salt Lake City floats its $15.3 million voter-approved bond, Sandy's Economic Development Director Randy Sant said.

At a news conference last week, Checketts announced a "financial instrument" for the team's share would be delivered within 30 days with no strings attached. The team had been criticized for asking that it control naming rights and concessions revenues in return for its "investment."

On Monday, Sant said he might have to pull the other interlocal agreement, the one with the county, off the City Council agenda if he hasn't resolved concerns with that document. Sant said the county had requested unworkable changes Friday. County Mayor Peter Corroon said the county requested only clearer language requiring that the $35 million in hotel taxes be used exclusively for land, parking and infrastructure.

Sandy's council also will consider an amendment to the city's parking ordinance that would enable RSL to rely on off-site parking. The team plans to arrange with surrounding property owners to provide parking for 4,300 cars during stadium events.

"That will be a big mistake" and will increase gridlock around the stadium, said Sandy resident Gary Forbush. His group, Get Real Utah, learned last week its petition drive failed by thousands of signatures to force a referendum on the $35 million allocated by the Legislature. Sandy's agreement with the state would require RSL to:

* Provide $7.5 million for Salt Lake City's youth sports complex.

* Establish a soccer academy in Salt Lake County.

* Donate 500 tickets per game to charity.

* Offer promotional and co-branding opportunities to the state.

* Convey any stadium land to public ownership (probably via Sandy's Redevelopment Agency).

* Build 1,000 public parking spaces.

* Remain in Utah for a minimum of 10 years. (The team would have to make any remaining payments on the $35 million bond if it left before 20 years.)

rwinters@sltrib.com