Earlier this week, the suburb tried to snare the academy, once promised to Salt Lake City, by drafting a development agreement that not only floats $45 million in public funds toward RSL's $110 million stadium - under construction at 9256 S. State St. - but also encourages the team to use its "best efforts" to put the academy in Sandy as well.

On Friday, Sandy Economic Development Director Randy Sant said the academy clause has been yanked.

"The state reviewed the language. The state said, 'That's not what we need to do to enforce' '' the requirement that RSL build a soccer academy, Sant said. "It's done. It's over."

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson isn't so sure.

"They probably are [still trying to land the academy] - just not in their agreement," he said.

Questions certainly linger about where the academy will go. The state, which is handling the $35 million of Salt Lake County hotel taxes channeled toward the stadium by the Legislature, has required only that RSL build a soccer academy "in Utah."

Anderson is still waiting on a call from RSL owner Dave Checketts.

"I would ask Real if they're going to live up to their repeated assurances that they would build the academy in Salt Lake City," the mayor said.

Anderson and some state lawmakers maintain that Utah's capital was promised the academy - in addition to RSL's $7.5 million for youth fields - in exchange for their support of the stadium-funding package.

While RSL Chief Executive Officer Dean Howes said Friday he is glad Sandy pulled the academy provision, he disputes that a Salt Lake City academy was part of the deal.

"I clearly wanted to be consistent with the language that we agreed to with the Legislature - no more, no less," Howes said. "We still have an ongoing dialogue with Salt Lake so I feel good about" not having a Sandy preference in the development agreement.

The franchise must build an academy "in Utah," Howes said, adding that the team has not been shown any potential sites in Sandy.

RSL would need 40 acres, which could prove difficult - and pricey - in the built-out suburb.

A new draft of the development agreement will be ready next week, but it won't be considered for Sandy City Council approval until July 31 or Aug. 7, Sant said.

On Tuesday, the council is expected to create a Community Development Area enclosing the 29-acre stadium site.

If other taxing entities join in, increased property taxes generated by the new development then could be tapped to pay off a $10 million bond Sandy plans to issue next March.

The bond proceeds would be used for land, parking and infrastructure for the stadium, but also could go toward construction of the stadium itself, according to Sant.

Sandy's Redevelopment Agency could "gift" some of the 29 acres not covered by the stadium to RSL for the team's planned commercial venture.

rwinters@sltrib.com