Sacramento Joining MLS

A five-year effort to bring to the Capital of California a top-flight soccer franchise materialized today, with MLS Commissioner Don Garber officially awarding the City of Sacramento the latest Major League Soccer expansion bid.

“Major League Soccer continues to grow throughout North America, and we are so proud to welcome Sacramento as our newest team” announced Garber.

The Sacramento Republic Football Club, which currently plays in the Western Conference of the USL Championships (a division II league) will start competing in the MLS in the 2022 season, and will become the 29th team in the league.

 
The move is led by a sports-savvy investor group including Ron Burkle who owns NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, Matt Alvarez, an entertainment executive and producer and Kevin Nagle, current owner of Sacramento Republic FC and also of NBA team Sacramento Kings.

The group will invest $300 million in a 20,000-plus seat stadium in Sacramento’s downtown Railyards District.

The MLS currently has 24 active teams playing in Season 2019. Inter Miami FC and Nashville SC are expected to join in 2020, Austin FC in 2021, and both St. Louis and Sacramento will be joining the league in 2022.