Turns out, Murray is the top contender to land a new 22,000-seat soccer stadium for the fledgling Real Salt Lake. So said David Checketts, owner of the startup Major League Soccer team, in a meeting Tuesday with Murray's Chamber of Commerce.

The vastness of Murray's site - 100 vacant acres north of the TRAX station at 4400 South - puts the centrally located suburb ahead of Salt Lake City's 10-acre parcel in the stadium sweepstakes. Murray's land would give the franchise more room for parking and practice fields and act as a catalyst for other development, including housing, retail and restaurants.

"That is, quite frankly, why Murray is in the lead," Checketts said.

The city also got a boost in December, when a Real-commissioned poll found the suburban community was countywide respondents' preferred site.

But any deal is far from done.

Checketts stressed Salt Lake City remains a strong candidate - a final decision is expected in two weeks - and that Mayor Rocky Anderson has yet to present his final proposal, which could come as early as today.

The team owner also noted that a downtown Salt Lake City stadium always has been at the top of Real's wish list.

"I've been very clear that my preference is to be downtown," Checketts said.

Utah's capital also wants to create a mixed-use development around a stadium, but the downtown site - between Main Street and West Temple from 600 South to 700 South - is about a tenth the size of Murray's.

Checketts added that he is under "political pressure" to put the stadium in Salt Lake City to help spur development on downtown's southern fringes.

For now, though, Checketts is noncommittal - saying he would have no problem putting Real's home in either Murray or Salt Lake City.

The team has proposed a $60 million stadium and plans to ask Salt Lake County voters to bond for half the tab. Salt Lake City and Murray have proposed funding from their respective redevelopment agencies to pay for the land - between $5 million and 5 million - and other infrastructure.

Murray Mayor Dan Snarr said his proposal won't change in the next two weeks.

"They understand exactly where we are."

jsantini@sltrib.com

LDS statement

LDS Church leaders have discussed the proposed soccer stadium with officials from Salt Lake City and Real Salt Lake. While the church has not taken a position on the stadium's location, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton issued the following statement Tuesday:

"The church applauds economic-development efforts that will enhance the appeal and vitality of downtown Salt Lake City."

The LDS Church, a major player in downtown development, is planning multimillion-dollar makeovers of the Crossroads Plaza and ZCMI Center malls.