SI/Planet Futbol weighs in. Not much new here, except they express the view (shared by me) that it may be too late for #28, but if MLS goes to 30 we're in good shape.
And ESPN. Absolutely nothing new there. We may be late for the #28 party, but FWIW, Burkle must believe MLS is a very real possibility, because otherwise he's wasting his time. No way he gets his necessary ROI without MLS-level revenue streams.
This is an outsider's view, but I think you have the inside track for #28. First off, I openly mock anyone who thinks MLS stops at 28. 32 min. NFL is 32. NHL is 31 with Seattle coming in. MLB & NBA 30. Why would MLS stop at 28? Second, I think you guys can be ready to go with the stadium on opening day 2021. Not sure STL or PHX can get there. Minnesota just played 2 years at a temporary home. Cincy will have 2 years at Nippert before their new stadium opens in 2021. Nashville & Miami will be in temp homes in 2020 and perhaps part of 2021. I think MLS would like to ditch playing in temp facilities if possible. Austin comes in stadium ready in 2021. So do you. PHX & STL come in stadium ready in 2022. Third, what a 2021 the league would look at. Cincy, Miami, and Nashville all move into their new digs. Cincy for the opener, hopefully Miami & Nash too. Austin & Sac entering with new stadiums. And then Columbus moving into their new digs in the summer. Then 2022 with new teams & digs in STL & PHX. Boom. Lastly, I think you get better east/west balance this way. Not that it matters much. Chicago bouncing & Minny eventually coming east. 2019 = 24. East (12): DC, NE, NYRB, NYCFC, Philly, Orl, ATL, Mon, TFC, CLB, Cincy, Chicago. West (12): LAG, LAFC, SJ, Port, Sea, Van, RSL, Col, FCD, Hou, SKC, Minny. 2020 = 26. East (13): DC, NE, NYRB, NYCFC, Philly, Mia, Orl, ATL, Mon, TFC, CLB, Cincy, Nash. West (13): LAG, LAFC, SJ, Port, Sea, Van, RSL, Col, FCD, Hou, SKC, Minny, Chi. 2021 = 28. East (14): DC, NE, NYRB, NYCFC, Philly; Mia, Orl, ATL; Mon, TFC, CLB, Cincy, Nash, Chi. West (14): LAG, LAFC, SJ, Sac, Port, Sea, Van, RSL, Col; FCD, Hou, Austin; SKC, Minny. 2022 = 30. East (15): DC, NE, NYRB, NYCFC, Philly; Mia, Orl, ATL; Mon, TFC, CLB, Cincy, Nash, Chicago, Minny. West (15): LAG, LAFC, SJ, Sac, Phx; Port, Sea, Van; RSL, Col; FCD, Hou, Austin; SKC, STL. Sets the table for 1 more in each conference for 32. East: Detroit, Raleigh, Tampa, Charlotte, Indy. West: San Antonio, SD, Vegas. Real pressure then as 32 is a spot where they really could stop for a long while. But Detroit is really the only apple in MLS' eye amongst the remaining cities. I think you guys are in under the wire as a merit (vs market) based addition.
Not sure the new stadium can be ready in time for 2021 even if we got the nod in February. They have done some site prep work and a bit of dirt-pushing, but California is California and the stadium will still be subject to the onerous CEQA law, and I'm sure somebody will discover that the Railyards site is the last known habitat of the Left-handed Asia-Pacific Horsefly. Plus, there's already rumblings coming from the Eye on Sacramento crew about filing a suit if the city chips in any kind of financial help. And this time, they won't be nearly as idiotic as the STOP crew was when they tried (and gloriously failed) to derail the arena project. Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles took 20 months from groundbreak to formal opening in April of 2018, but they were still working on the stadium right up to the scheduled opening date, as well as for a couple of months into the season. In previous conversations, the club has made it clear that the Cal Expo stadium is not acceptable for MLS play, so best case scenario is a 2022 start for SRFC in the new digs, unless they play the first third to half of the 2021 season on the road.
CEQA is completed for the railyards, including an update for the stadium. CEQA challenge time has expired, they can build whenever (local entitlements are all that is needed but they already received approval from the City Council to obtain those). Here you can see the documents that came from the CEQA document (know as a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report because the railyards were already studied under a previous Environmental impact Report): http://www.cityofsacramento.org/com...railyards-project/major-league-soccer-stadium Also I believe there was a statement that with Burkle's investment, construction could be quicker as well.
Well if that is the case, and they don't hit any underground bunkers like they did at Avaya in San Jose, they could very well have the stadium open for the 2021 MLS season...if. Always that facking if. And until we're officially rid of the if, I'm staying out here on the doom ledge.
Every time I get discouraged, I'm gonna read this quote again: “The truth of the matter is, he will get in,” said Greif, a Los Angeles investment banker who’s known Burkle for years. “None of this was done on speculation. Trust me, I know Ron; he wouldn’t be doing this if there was any risk that Republic wasn’t going to be an MLS team.” https://www.sacbee.com/sports/mls/article224960920.html
Wait a second...................so Burkle gets prime downtown land in all of this right? MLS team or not, he's going to get a nice ROI on the development of that piece of land. Burkle definitely helps Sac Republics MLS expansion bid. Until MLS royalty are at the young folks' most favorite brew pub in Sacramento with all of the local media present for an announcement/celebration..........anything can, and HAS happened. Wish you all the best, hope to see in the league one day.* *much rather have Sac Republic than Austin, that's for sure.
I think this may just be some minor housekeeping due to the length of time we've spent trying to secure the bid and the emergence of Ron Burkle as lead investor. City, Republic FC may start over on term sheet for soccer stadium The article is behind a paywall, but here is what I think are the important parts. A Sacramento City Council vote to extend a consultant contract Tuesday would be an interim step toward crafting a possible new term sheet... ...an economic development adviser to the Sacramento city manager, said it’s not certain a new term sheet will be needed to replace one the city approved in 2015. But conversations...have been underway for about six months... "Since he’s (Burkle) new, he has some different considerations..." Council members will vote on a supplemental agreement to pay $100,000 for CAA ICON Strategic Advisory Inc. to advise the city on talks with Sac Republic ownership... The contract ...would not exceed $199,900... ...city leaders have talked about speeding environmental review of a stadium proposal...both the city and Sacramento Republic FC are looking to move quickly... “There is some urgency on everyone’s part,” ... MLS officials have said they plan to select another expansion team in the near future... *Edit: Trimmed the fat off what I copied from the article.
You're getting there folks, inch at a time, but you're getting there. You'll be with us, I look forward to it.
You should be next in the west , followed by St Louis. If MLS does not select you, all the efforts to get a deep pocket investor that MLS seems to have required would go for naught. If you don't get it, are there any legal ramifications? Do you proceed with your stadium and stay with USL-C ?With Cincy gone, you become the big dog again, especially in terms of attendance. You drew some big crowds at Sac City College (20k?), downsized to 11k at Papa's (although the grass is nice), so if you build you new place and get crowds approaching/exceeding what you had at City College, is that possible or sustainable at USL-C level?
To proceed with a suit is the best way to NEVER get in the league. This isn't something like the Crews situation that merited a lawsuit. Sac will enter the league soon enough. No need for legal actions.
----------------- Of course, the Crew situation should never be repeated. It even sucks Austin jumped over you, but I guess that resolved many issues, legal or otherwise. It seems to be that SAC did everything the league asked for and it will be a shame if SAC is later rather than sooner.
I'm with Knave on this one.....I'll become a believer when I see Sacramento with a W-L-D record in the MLS standings. Been told too many things that never materialized, by people that were "in-the-know." Until then, I'm gonna sit in my seat, order a cold one, jump up in support of great efforts on the field (i might rethink this....don't want to spill the cold one)., and enjoy every USL-C game they play with no expectation of MLS.
Fascinating stuff just inserted into a short take by KCRA. Bodes well if he's continuing to meet with Garber and the like and nothings leaking out.