Sacramento Republic FC and Wilton Rancheria plan a 20,000-seat stadium at The Railyards, set to open in 2028 as a major sports and events venue.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Wilton Rancheria and Sacramento Republic FC announced Tuesday that their long-planned downtown stadium will be built as a more than 20,000-seat venue from the start, making it the largest outdoor professional sports and entertainment facility in the Sacramento region.
The project, called Republic Stadium, will be constructed at The Railyards and is scheduled to open in 2028. Officials said the decision to build the full-capacity stadium upfront replaces earlier plans to expand the venue in phases.
Wilton Rancheria, the federally recognized tribe that owns Republic FC, said the development marks the first time a tribal nation will own both a professional soccer club and its home stadium.
The project will be built on a 31-acre site described as reclaimed ancestral land. Leaders from the tribe and the club said the expanded vision reflects growing confidence in the region’s ability to support a larger, soccer-specific venue.
“This is about matching the ambition of Sacramento and creating a space for the community to come together,” said Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango in a statement.
The stadium is designed primarily for soccer, with a seating capacity exceeding 20,000 for matches. For concerts and large events, officials say it could accommodate up to 27,000 attendees.
New renderings show a five-story seating bowl with fans positioned close to the field, along with more than 20 seating options, including safe-standing sections for supporters.
A canopy is planned to cover all seats, providing shade and weather protection, while still allowing for open-air airflow. Project leaders say the canopy will be supported by large steel trusses that are expected to become a visible feature of Sacramento’s skyline.
Additional amenities are expected to include a shaded concourse, a supporters’ plaza, premium seating areas and a new west-side tower with upgraded club spaces.
Construction preparations on the site were completed in late 2025. Infrastructure work, including streets, utilities, and storm drainage, is expected to begin before the end of April, followed by foundation and vertical construction. The timeline calls for work to continue through 2027.
Beyond the stadium itself, the project is expected to anchor a broader redevelopment of The Railyards, including future plans for housing, retail, hotel space and other community amenities.
Officials say the development will help transform a long-vacant area north of downtown into a new neighborhood and entertainment destination.
Fans interested in attending the stadium’s inaugural season can place deposits for priority seating, according to the team.
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