Sacramento Republic FC announces plan for Railyards stadium

Nov 7, 2024, 10:10 AM | Updated: 11:03 am

(Photo by Maciek Gudrymowicz/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Following years of uncertainty, it’s official: The Sacramento Republic FC will be getting a new stadium.

The Republic announced on Thursday that it will sell the club’s majority ownership to Wilton Rancheria, making the group the first Native American tribe to possess majority ownership of a men’s professional sports franchise.

Current chairman Kevin Nagle will retain ownership and continue acting as the club’s operating manager.

Wilton Rancheria has reached an agreement with DRV (Downtown Railyards Venture, LLC) to acquire the necessary land needed to build a new stadium at the Railyards in downtown Sacramento.

BREAKING: @WiltonRancheria joins Republic FC as Majority Owner as City clears path to build Republic Stadium.

🔗 https://t.co/hCoaqRNiGJ pic.twitter.com/E82YfuskbI

— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) November 7, 2024

During Thursday’s press conference at Sacramento City Hall, Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced a term sheet for the construction of a 12,000-seat stadium. Wilton Rancheria—the Native American tribe that owns Sky River Casino in Elk Grove—will provide the financial backing for Republic FC’s new home.

A completed term sheet for the site and planned stadium will be delivered to the Sacramento City Council on Tuesday, November 12th. According to multiple sources, the hope is to open the new stadium in 2027.

It’s been an unpaved road to delivering Republic FC fans with a new stadium. An approved MLS bid in 2019 fell apart less than two years later as primary investor Ron Burkle dropped out due to financial concerns.

Now, the Republic is on the verge of lifting itself back into consideration for an MLS team as Wilton Rancheria looks to do what many have tried–and failed–to do: Build a new stadium at the Railyards in downtown Sacramento.

More on Sacramento Republic FC

The Sacramento Republic FC are making a head coaching change.

Mark Briggs will not return next season, as both sides have announced a mutual separation that will take place immediately. Sacramento Republic FC’s season came to an end on Friday night in Las Vegas in a 3-0 loss during the opening round of the USL Playoffs.

Briggs, 42, has been with Sacramento Republic FC since 2019, starting as an Acadamy Director before being hired as the fourth head coach in club history.