Sacramento Republic FC is the latest sports team to propose an idea for a sports community around a stadium.

The USL team’s owner and chairman Kevin Nagle announced a plan for a Railyards Stadium to help Sacramento recover from pandemic losses and “provide a new downtown home for sports and entertainment.” 

Railyards Stadium will lead a nearly $1 billion investment in The Railyards — a 242-acre district that will include mixed-used, housing, and retail development projects, doubling the size of downtown.

Read more about the stadium from Front Office Sports here.

Sacramento Republic FC officials on Friday unveiled a “new vision” for a stadium planned in the Railyards project north of Downtown Sacramento.

“The planned stadium would have between 12,000 and 15,000 seats, according to a news release from the team. Under a “futureproof plan,” it would be able to expand to about 20,000 seats, the news release states.”

“Under the current plan, the stadium can be constructed “on an accelerated timeline,” the news release states. MANICA Architecture and Machete Group are working on an initial concept.”

Read the full story on bizjournals.com/sacramento/news.com 

“The new vision for the 12,000-15,000 seat venue will initially be used as a USL-based stadium, but it could expand to 20,000 seats as needed, if Major League Soccer comes calling or if any FIFA requirements are imposed upon them. The new stadium design comes from the architectural firm, Manica, which has developed projects like Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the Chase Center in San Francisco and even, Wembley Stadium in London. The concept can be constructed on an accelerated timeline.”

“The plans are to host not only just soccer events but Division 1 football, lacrosse, rugby, concerts, high school and college graduations, and any other community events.A release from Sacramento Republic FC said the stadium is a nearly $1 billion investment, which includes bringing in new housing and mixed-use developments. The project is almost entirely privately funded by Republic FC Chairman and CEO Kevin Nagle, and other investors.”

“We want to build a world-class soccer stadium in The Railyards, and to begin the next decade of Republic FC,” Nagle said in a release. “We’re ready with a new vision that allows us to take our destiny into our own hands, and to create a community asset that will grow with the team and city.”

Read the full story at kcra.com/article/sacramento-republic-fc-image-downtown-stadium-railyards/39603770

Republic FC’s new stadium plan unveiled Friday is not just an investment in Sacramento. The Sacramento Bee talked with USL President Jake Edwards, who spoke about how they change the league and its markets.

“Sacramento Republic FC’s plan to build a new stadium in the downtown Railyards would be part of a larger building boom in American soccer. Several franchises in both Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League, of which Republic is a member, have opened new facilities in recent years. Many more have proposed new stadiums or are in the process of constructing buildings.”

“Jake Edwards, president of the USL, said stadium development “is a major strategic initiative for the league.” He said more than two dozen franchises plan to build new stadiums in the various levels of USL between now and the 2026 World Cup.”

Read more about future USL stadium plans at sacbee.com/sports/article259783705.html#storylink=cpy

“A brand new rendering released on Friday is giving a glimpse of the stadium, which officials say could be constructed on an accelerated timeline and double the size of downtown with new housing and other developments.”

“We want to build a world-class soccer stadium in The Railyards, and to begin the next decade of Republic FC,” said Republic FC Owner and CEO Kevin Nagle in a statement.”

“The new concept appears to be cementing Sac Republic FC’s status as one of the premier clubs in the United Soccer League.”

“Initial plans for the downtown stadium are for it to be a 12,000-15,000 seat facility, with it having the potential to expand to more than 20,000 seats.”

Read the full story at sacramento.cbslocal.com/2022/04/01/sac-republic-fc-new-downtown-stadium-rendering/

This morning, the Sacramento bee explored what kind of benefit a new downtown stadium would bring Sacramento Republic FC fans. 

“For a modest stadium that seats roughly 11,000 fans and hosts a USL team, Heart Health Park has been a good venue for the Sacramento Republic FC. It’s spacious, there’s plenty of parking and it’s close to thoroughfares alongside Cal Expo in Arden Arcade. The atmosphere is good and fans are engaged. It is a unique environment, with Sacramento among the league leaders in attendance, typically averaging around 10,000 fans a game.”

“If done correctly, that intense environment would stay intact with the team’s proposed downtown venue, just blocks north of Golden 1 Center. If attendance at the March 12 home opener was any indication, fans would flock to a new stadium closer to downtown.”

“The team wants to do it. Fans would benefit. The question is whether city officials and landowners can reach a deal with the team to build a stadium.”

Heart Health Park was built for $3 million in 2014 and has passed its expiration date.https://t.co/BWCKWMZCsm
✍: @ChrisBiderman

— The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) April 1, 2022

Read the full story at https://www.sacbee.com/article259520939.html#storylink=cpy

Earlier today, the club announced its plan to build a new Downtown Railyards stadium. Republic FC Owner and CEO Kevin Nagle shared additional details about the vision to create a community asset and invest in the city during an exclusive interview with FOX40, which aired this morning:

“It’s going to come. It’s going to be a reality."

Sacramento Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle told FOX40 in an exclusive interview.https://t.co/szI9nPQdBV

— FOX40 News (@FOX40) April 1, 2022

“Just over 13 months since Sacramento’s MLS bid fell apart because of Ron Burkle pulling his support, Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle is once again making a push to build a permanent stadium at the Railyards.”

“We’re going to bring a soccer stadium to Sacramento, in the railyards,” Nagle told FOX40 in an exclusive interview.

“We’ve been working on it for quite a while,” Nagle said. “Frankly, since we had the exit from being admitted into Major League Soccer. We had to go back to the drawing boards and determine what our next steps are gonna be, and it was determined that one way or another, we were gonna create a soccer stadium – whether it would be for Major League Soccer or leading up to Major League Soccer.” 

“This new concept has been in the works for over a year, with Nagle determined to bring a stadium to downtown Sacramento, regardless of whether or not MLS follows.”

Check out FOX40’s full story, and excerpts of their interview with Nagle at FOX40.com/sports/soccer/republic-fc-announces-new-plan-for-railyards-stadium/ 

Earlier today, the club announced its plan to build a new Downtown Railyards stadium. Republic FC Owner and CEO Kevin Nagle shared additional details about the vision to create a community asset and invest in the city during an exclusive interview with the Sacramento Bee:

“The owners of Sacramento Republic FC are in the advanced planning stages of building a soccer stadium in the downtown Railyards that would anchor a new housing and entertainment district and serve as a long-awaited spark for one of the nation’s largest urban infill developments.

In an exclusive interview with The Sacramento Bee, Republic FC owner Kevin Nagle said the stadium would seat between 12,000 and 15,000 for soccer matches and cost between $100 million and $150 million.”

Read the story at Sacbee.com/sports/article259744335.html

Sacramento, Calif. – Today, Republic FC Owner and Chairman Kevin Nagle announced a new vision for a Railyards Stadium to create a community asset that will help Sacramento accelerate its recovery from the pandemic and provide a new downtown home for sports and entertainment. As part of today’s announcement, the club released a preliminary rendering of the new stadium concept.

“We want to build a world-class soccer stadium in The Railyards, and to begin the next decade of Republic FC,” said Republic FC Owner and CEO Kevin Nagle. “We’re ready with a new vision that allows us to take our destiny into our own hands, and to create a community asset that will grow with the team and city.”

During 2021, as the club continued to pursue investors for an MLS expansion club, Kevin Nagle recognized the region’s need to help jumpstart a recovery from the effects of the pandemic with a new community asset – and began exploring ways to build upon the agreements made for an MLS expansion club and bring a soccer-specific stadium to life in Downtown Sacramento.

The new vision for a world-class facility will:

• Build a 12,000-15,000 seat Downtown facility that will serve as a community asset, meeting the needs of the city, league and community on an accelerated timeline,
• Expand the city’s sports and entertainment calendar with potential events like,
  • marquee soccer matches with international competitions and global clubs,
  • a diverse array of sporting events – rugby, lacrosse, college sports and more,
  • outdoor concerts, festivals and shows.
• Be able to transform with the city, team, and league and expand up to 20,000+ seats due to a futureproof plan,
• Once again spark an era of growth by creating more opportunities to showcase Sacramento and bring people Downtown.

The club has engaged industry leaders MANICA Architecture and Machete Group, who have designed and managed showcase projects – including Allegiant Stadium, Chase Center, and TQL Stadium – to craft an initial concept that can meet the goals of the club and city.

“I’m grateful to Kevin Nagle for his partnership and his commitment to Sacramento. As a city, we are open to pursuing dual tracks,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “We continue to identify and work with potential Major League Soccer investors, and at the same time we’re ready to work together on an adaptable stadium in the railyards. It’s not one or the other.”

Railyards Stadium will anchor an investment nearing $1 billion dollars that will accelerate development throughout The Railyards – invigorating the 242-acre district which has sat dormant for over 50 years. Beyond the stadium, the team will lead mixed-use, housing and retail development projects – all of which will help double the size of Downtown and create a hub of activity for the region.

“Sacramento is an incredible market for soccer, and we’re excited to see how Republic FC can continue to impact the community with a world-class stadium,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “The USL is in an exciting phase of strategic growth, and visionary development projects like the one Republic FC and the city of Sacramento are undertaking will elevate the game for fans and players in the United States for years to come.”

With a new facility, Republic FC can continue to be a vanguard club in the USL as the organization accelerates its growth in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The USL is the fastest-growing soccer league property in the world. The USL Championship will expand to 36 clubs by 2026. Eleven USL venues have been constructed since 2013, with plans to develop more than 30 more in the next four years. The USL is also playing a leading role in the growth of women’s soccer in the United States by launching the USL W League, an elite pre-professional league with 44 clubs, this year, and launching the USL Super League, a new fully professional league, in 2023.

As the club’s plan to build Railyards Stadium progress, the team will unveil new elements of the venue, host fans and community members for town halls to help create an unmatched fan experience, and share more on how it will develop the district around the facility.

For updates about Railyards Stadium, visit SacRepublicFC.com/RailyardsStadium.