The league hopes for an announcement by the end of the year, but Garber said it might not occur until 2008.
Seattle's strong ownership group and its potential as a "gateway to Asia" appealed to the league, Garber said.
Seattle was always a strong contender, said Charles G. Kopp, an attorney for the investors trying to bring soccer to Chester's waterfront.
He said that Delaware County was still in the running, and that the investors hoped to have a commitment for state funding by the end of the year. Legislative sources say a $20 million contribution to the $115 million stadium project is under consideration.
League officials met with state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) last week, Garber said, and while Pileggi supported the concept of the stadium, he wanted assurance from the league that the project would be a good deal for taxpayers.
"We are confident we can provide a rationale to get support for the funding package," said Garber, who said the deal was not financially workable without it.
"The economics of putting a stadium in Chester are such that . . . the financial deal does not make sense," he said.
Pileggi did not return calls made to his office yesterday.
Part of any state contribution would have to be approved by the legislature.
Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Gov. Rendell, said that with 12 days left in the legislative session, all the parties would have to "step up to the plate and do their part to make this project happen."
In October, Delaware County officials agreed to put $30 million toward the construction of a stadium. The funding would come from casino revenue, and the county would own the stadium and lease it back to the team.
The league is negotiating with a group of area investors that includes Jay Sugarman of iStar Financial in New York; Wilmington developers Christopher and Robert Buccini and David Pollin; James Nevels, a Swarthmore businessman; and lawyer William Doran.
