Railyards Stadium

The Railyards Stadium is a planned 21,000 seat soccer-specific stadium to be built in Sacramento, California. It will serve as the home for Sacramento Republic FC, a USL club that will enter Major League Soccer in 2023. The stadium is part of the Sacramento Railyards redevelopment project. It was unanimously approved in April 2019 by the Sacramento City Council,[1][2][3] and the stadium is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2023 MLS season.

Railyards Stadium
Recent rendering of the stadium released in April 2019
LocationSacramento Railyards, Sacramento, California
Coordinates38.5903°N 121.4909°W / 38.5903; -121.4909
OwnerSacramento Republic FC
OperatorSacramento Republic FC
TypeSoccer-specific stadium
Capacity21,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundSpring 2021 (expected)
Opened2023 (expected)
Construction cost$252 million
ArchitectHNTB
Tenants
Sacramento Republic FC (MLS) (2023–)
Website
https://www.mls2sac.com/

History

In late 2011, a group led by former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez began exploring the possibility of having an MLS team in the Sacramento area, originally looking at stadium sites in the suburb of Elk Grove.[4] Sacramento Republic FC was announced as a 2014 expansion team for the second-division United Soccer League on December 3, 2012.[5] Local business leaders, including Warren Smith, hoped to convert the franchise to a Major League Soccer team by 2016.[6] On September 17, 2014, the team announced its intentions to acquire property at the Sacramento Railyards infill project for a soccer stadium.[7] More details of the stadium were announced in late 2015: HNTB was hired as the lead architects of the stadium,[8] and the design of the stadium (partially influenced by fan input) was revealed on December 1, 2015.[9] The official go-ahead from the City Council was given on November 10, 2016.[10] However, the construction of the stadium was delayed as the team did not have an investor who satisfied the requirements of MLS. On January 22, 2019, Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle was announced as the investor needed for MLS promotion.[11] Around two months later, the stadium design was updated; additions to the old design included a 360-degree concourse/pedestrian walkway, new seating at the canopy level on the west side of the stadium, and additional field-level seating areas. The cost for the stadium was raised to approximately $252 million.[12] Following the expansion announcement, construction on the stadium was expected to begin in the summer of 2020 ahead of a 2022 opening, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the move to MLS to 2023. Construction on the stadium is currently anticipated to begin in the spring of 2021.

Design

The current stadium design was unveiled in April 2019. Although the stadium is designed with a closed bowl, it will have separate stands on different sides, creating a distinct character for each one, reminiscent of St James' Park. In order to meet the designer's goal of creating MLS's best home-field advantage, the seating will feature the steepest grade in the league, as well as an untiered east side that bears similarities to Westfalenstadion's Yellow Wall.[13]

Major events

College soccer

On October 14, 2020, the NCAA announced that the stadium will host the semifinals and finals of the NCAA College Cup soccer tournament in 2024 and 2025; the men's tournament in 2024 and the Women's College Cup in 2025.[14]

References
  1. "Sacramento's MLS dream may soon be reality. Here's what we know about the stadium so far". www.sacbee.com. Sacramento Bee. April 19, 2019.
  2. "Sacramento City Council unanimously approves stadium plans". MLS SOCCER. April 10, 2019.
  3. "Sacramento Republic FC say major soccer announcement coming next week". MLS SOCCER. October 16, 2019.
  4. Kasler, Dale (December 14, 2011). "Group exploring Major League Soccer franchise for Elk Grove". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  5. "Sacramento lands minor league soccer franchise". Sacramento Bee. December 3, 2012. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  6. Lillis, Ryan (November 28, 2013). "Sacramento soccer franchise has ambitious goal". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  7. Joyce, Ed. "Sacramento Republic FC Moves To Acquire Railyards Property For Soccer Stadium". CapRadio. Capital Public Radio. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  8. "Sacramento Republic FC hires architect for MLS Stadium". Sacramento Bee. August 19, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  9. "Concept designs unveiled for new Sacramento MLS stadium". Sacramento Republic FC. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  10. Lillis, Ryan. "Soccer stadium, huge railyard project get OK from Sacramento City Council". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  11. Carlisle, Jeff (January 22, 2019). "Sacramento Republic's MLS hopes get boost as Ron Burkle agrees to take over team". ESPN. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  12. Communications, Republic FC (April 2, 2019). "Republic FC Release Updated MLS Stadium Renderings". Sacramento Republic FC - USL.
  13. "A stadium built for the world's game". Sacramento Republic FC. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  14. "RAILYARDS STADIUM AWARDED 2024 MEN'S COLLEGE CUP AND 2025 WOMEN'S COLLEGE CUP". Sacramento Republic FC. October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
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