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Renderings of the proposed MLS stadium for Sacramento Republic FC (Courtesy Sacramento Republic FC)

Renderings of the proposed MLS stadium for Sacramento Republic FC (Courtesy Sacramento Republic FC)

Renderings of the proposed MLS stadium for Sacramento Republic FC (Courtesy Sacramento Republic FC)

Renderings of the proposed MLS stadium for Sacramento Republic FC (Courtesy Sacramento Republic FC)

Tower Bridge Battalion members march into Papa Murphy’s Park before the sold-out game April 6.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg (middle) shows his support along with other team and city officials for the city’s bid as a Major League Soccer franchise before Saturday’s game.

Sacramento native Cameron Iwasa, a 2011 Jesuit High School graduate and Republic FC’s all-time leading scorer, battles Austin Bold FC’s Amobi Okugo during second-half action at Papa Murphy’s Park.

Jaime Villarreal is mobbed by his Sacramento teammates before a sold-out crowd of 11,569 after his late goal beat Austin Bold FC 1-0 at Papa Murphy’s Park on April 6.

Republic FC fans and players crowd City Hall on April 9 prior to the Sacramento City Council unanimously approving the term sheet for constructing a $252.2 million stadium in the downtown Railyards should Sacramento receive an MLS

Recent Developments Heighten Optimism for Sacramento Major League Soccer Bid

Back Photo gallery Apr 12, 2019 By Steve Martarano

It has been a head-spinning past two weeks for Sacramento and its five-year bid to become the next Major League Soccer expansion team.

On April 2, after new lead investor Ron Burkle and his partner Matt Alvarez replaced Kevin Nagle in January, Sacramento Republic FC released updated design renderings of its planned stadium in The Railyards downtown.

The developments continued three days later, when Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced an agreement between the city and the team on the terms to build the stadium. The preliminary term sheet — including the city’s commitment to provide $33 million in fee waivers, tax rebates, advertising rights and infrastructure financing — for construction of a $252.2-million privately-financed stadium was unanimously approved by the Sacramento City Council on April 9. The goal is to complete the stadium within two years of receiving an MLS bid.

The league released a statement immediately following the vote: “Major League Soccer is pleased the Sacramento City Council unanimously approved the preliminary term sheet for construction of a new soccer stadium at the Railyards site should Sacramento be awarded an MLS expansion club. We look forward to continuing our discussions with Ron Burkle and his partners regarding possible MLS expansion in Sacramento.”

Sacramento’s attention now turns to April 18 and the MLS Board of Governors meeting in Los Angeles, where the league will discuss which city, reportedly either Sacramento or St. Louis, will receive an expansion team. A decision by the league could come soon after.

Sacramento, which joined the United Soccer League in 2014 and has been trying to move up to MLS since 2015, will be sending a contingent to Los Angeles, with the city optimistic about finally landing the 28th MLS team.