If all goes according to plan, Sandy will issue bonds for the $35 million next Tuesday. About $20 million would then be used to buy RSL's 23 acres where the $110 million stadium will sit. The remaining $15 million would pay for parking and public infrastructure.

The controversial deal has been touted as a boon for economic development, kicked to the curb as a poor public investment, salvaged by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and the Legislature, and targeted by a grassroots group that sought - but failed - to overturn the state-approved funding through a voter referendum.

"We've been taking this one step at a time and [tonight] is a very big step," said RSL spokesman Eric Gelfand. "We're in the process of building something we think is going to be a great benefit to the community."

The 20,000-seat stadium has been under construction at 9256 S. State St. since May and is expected to open in fall 2008.

There remain critics of the public funding deal - which also will include up to $10 million of tax-increment financing from Sandy's Redevelopment Agency.

"I still think it stinks. I don't think [the stadium is] the best investment that we can make with these [hotel] tax dollars," said Gary Forbush, one of the leaders of the failed campaign to get a stadium referendum on the November ballot. "There are better [public investments] that could give us a bigger return in a shorter time frame."

To seal the deal, the Sandy City Council, which also serves as the city's Redevelopment Agency Board, will be considering a number of agreements tonight:

* A development agreement with RSL that requires the team to build a $110 million stadium and play in it for 25 years or cover the remaining bond payments.

* A property purchase contract for Real's stadium land.

* Real's 50-year ground lease at a rate of $1 per year. The lease has an optional 10-year extension.

* A resolution that authorizes the sale of $35 million in bonds.

* A contribution agreement that would obligate Sandy to allocate money if there's not enough transient-room taxes collected in a given year to make the bond payments.

rwinters@sltrib.com