Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber officially announced yesterday that Major League Soccer (MLS) has awarded an expansion team to California’s capital city, Sacramento. Sacramento Republic Football Club will begin play in MLS in 2022.
Sacramento will be MLS’ 29th Club. 19 clubs have joined MLS since 2005. Sacramento Republic FC will be the fourth MLS club in California, following the LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes and LAFC. An intense rivalry is likely to form with the Earthquakes, who play just 90 miles away of Sacramento.
To Start Playing in MLS in 2022 - Major League Soccer Awards Expansion Team To Sacramento
Sacramento Republic FC also announced that they will build a new, $300 million, 20,100-seat soccer stadium in the downtown Railyards District. The stadium will be a centerpiece of a redevelopment project that will include housing, retail, theaters, parks, museums, a hotel and a major medical center.
“Major League Soccer continues to grow throughout North America and we are so proud to welcome Sacramento as our newest team,” said Commissioner Garber. “For many years, soccer fans in Sacramento have passionately supported Republic FC and shown that the club deserves to be competing at the highest level. Thanks to the determined efforts and commitment of new owners Ron Burkle and Matt Alvarez along with the leadership of Mayor Darren Steinberg, Sacramento will join MLS with a world-class soccer stadium that will transform the sport in California’s capital.”
Being founded in 2012, Sacramento Republic FC made its debut in the USL in 2014. The The USL Championship (USLC) is the second-tier level professional men's soccer league in the United States and Canada that began its inaugural season in 2011.
Sacramento Republic FC MLS Kits To Be Sponsored By UC Davis Health
It is already known that the first-ever Sacramento Republic FC MLS kit will be sponsored by UC Davis Health. Both parties signed a multi-year partnership agreement in October 2017 with Republic FC to be the sponsor of its first MLS jersey. The agreement begins when the club starts play in MLS.
“Sacramento’s selection by Major League Soccer for an expansion team is a victory to be celebrated by everyone in our community,” said Burkle. “This has been a true team effort between the amazing soccer fans of the Sacramento region along with Mayor Steinberg and City Council, our partners and corporate leaders. We are proud to be part of the team that Kevin Nagle put together, which is made even stronger by an incredibly committed local ownership group. The relationship between Sacramento and our club already is a special one, and I’m committed to deepening that connection for years to come.”
“Sacramento is a dynamic city that is perfectly positioned to join and be successful in the fastest-growing professional sports league in the world,” said Alvarez, a Bay Area native who attended the University of California, Davis before he started his career in entertainment. “I have immense respect and appreciation for the Sacramento community and have no doubt that we will bring the most passionate supporters that Major League Soccer has ever seen.”
“Today’s official announcement of the selection of Sacramento to join Major League Soccer makes this a monumental day in our city’s history,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “I want to thank Commissioner Garber and everyone at MLS for believing in Sacramento, and I’m delighted that the faith shown in our city by Ron Burkle and Matt Alvarez has been rewarded. As an MLS franchise, Republic FC and our new soccer stadium will spur additional economic and cultural growth for Sacramento. This is a breakthrough for our city.”
"The game of soccer is special in my family. I've seen up close and personal how the 'beautiful game' can bridge diverse populations, build lasting relationships, and create a shared sense of community,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “With Sacramento Republic FC officially joining the ranks of Major League Soccer, California is now the only state in the nation with four MLS clubs, and I'm excited to watch the Golden State rivalries thrive in the years to come.”
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