Tempe officials say that the additional funds will allow them to present a cost-free site to Tourism and Sports Authority, which will decide on Tuesday whether to build the stadium in Tempe or in the West Valley. The competing cities have until Sunday night to finalize a deal with the TSA, which will own and operate the 73,000-seat stadium.

Because they are the main tenant and are making a financial contribution, the Cardinals have some official say in where the stadium will be built. The team has played at Sun Devil Stadium, which is less than a mile from the proposed site, since it arrived here more than a decade ago. Their multi-million training center is in south Tempe.

With the endorsement of the team, Tempe has now lined up powerful allies in their pitch to land the stadium. Earlier this week the Fiesta Bowl, which will use the stadium for their annual bowl game, and the Valley Hotel and Resort Association both threw their backing behind putting the stadium in Tempe.

Meanwhile, the West Valley has asked the state attorney general to decide if the TSA could legally accept Tempe's proposed site after the Nov. 7 election and whether the authority could accept a site that does not include ownership of the land. Tempe, which will lease the land from the Salt River Project--a local utility--submitted its plans in late November.