The Abridged version:
Wilton Rancheria and Sacramento Republic FC plan to construct a 20,000-seat soccer stadium in the Downtown Railyards.
Initial plans called for a 12,000-seat stadium that could be expanded, but tribal leaders said the new design was a result of demand.
The stadium will be privately financed and anchor a 31-acre housing, entertainment and hotel district, a sign of Wilton Rancheria’s broader ambitions in the region.
Wilton Rancheria, the majority owner of Sacramento Republic FC, has significantly expanded its initial plan for a new soccer stadium in the Downtown Railyards, choosing to build a facility that can seat more than 20,000 fans and will serve as the centerpiece of a multibillion-dollar housing and entertainment complex.
The tribe and Republic FC had initially planned — and received city approval for — a 12,000-seat stadium that could eventually be expanded in future phases. Instead, Wilton Rancheria will forgo the smaller plans and begin construction soon on a much larger stadium that could also accommodate 27,000 attendees for concerts, festivals and other events.
Rendering of concerts at the Sacramento Republic FC soccer stadium in the Downtown Railyards. (Sacramento Republic FC and MANICA)
In an exclusive interview last week with Abridged by PBS KVIE at Republic FC’s Downtown Sacramento headquarters, Wilton Rancheria leaders said the privately financed $350 million stadium will be ready in time for the 2028 season.
As most tribes continue to invest in casinos and gas stations as primary revenue sources (Wilton Rancheria owns and operates Sky River Casino in Elk Grove), the expanded stadium plans are an indication of Wilton Rancheria’s growing ambitions in the Sacramento region and beyond.
“We’re building this because our community needs it and deserves it,” Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango told Abridged.
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The 244-acre Downtown Railyards is often described as the nation’s largest urban infill site, but has stood largely vacant for decades, much to the frustration of local and regional leaders. Wilton Rancheria’s stadium district plans — which include a luxury hotel and other yet-to-be-revealed elements — combined with new housing, a music venue and a $1.3 billion Kaiser Permanente medical center mean the Railyards’ long overdue transformation may finally be here.
“The Railyards itself has been sitting barren for decades,” said Chris Franklin, the chief operations officer of Wilton Rancheria. “And for us to come back home and reclaim that in a way that is going to benefit the entire community and region and people that are visiting the region, I think just speaks volumes to where we’re headed.”
The Downtown Railyards site where Wilton Rancheria plans to build the new Sacramento Republic FC soccer stadium. (Martin Christian)
Behind the bolder stadium plans
The new stadium will anchor a 31-acre development in the northeast section of the Railyards, near the intersection of North B and Seventh streets. Site preparation work was completed last year. New streets, utility work and storm drains will be built starting in April, followed by the stadium’s foundation.
New elements in the bolder stadium plan include a canopy, a key request of Republic FC fans, that will cover stadium seats and shield spectators from the warm summer sun. Stadium seating will create a bowl design, placing fans close to the field. Architectural drawings of the stadium show a modern 123-foot-tall facility that will be visible from much of the urban core, a “supporters plaza” gathering spot on the north side of the stadium and premium seating sections. Fans looking to secure seating in the new stadium can find options on the team’s website.
Rendering of the supporters plaza at the Sacramento Republic FC soccer stadium in the Downtown Railyards. (Sacramento Republic FC and MANICA)
Team officials said the decision to construct a larger stadium than initially planned was born out of demand. The Sacramento region supports a growing youth soccer movement. Sacramento Republic FC regularly ranks at or near the top in average home attendance in the United Soccer League, the second-tier division in which the club has competed since 2014. Republic FC currently plays its home matches at the 11,569-seat Heart Health Park on the grounds of Cal Expo.
“For years, we have known what our fans deserve and what this region is capable of supporting. The response to groundbreaking removed any remaining doubt,” said Republic FC Managing Partner Kevin Nagle. “A 20,000-seat Republic Stadium — with a roof over every seat, safe standing for our supporters and world-class amenities throughout — is not an overreach. It is exactly the venue Sacramento has earned, and we are proud to deliver it.”
Will bigger plans attract attention from MLS?
The expanded stadium plan will likely raise questions about whether the shift is part of a broader strategy to attract the attention of Major League Soccer, the top tier of men’s professional soccer in America. Republic FC and Sacramento leaders have pushed to join the top-flight division for years; the club was awarded an expansion franchise in 2019, only to see billionaire Ron Burkle, its lead investor at the time, back out, resulting in the bid being placed on hold.
The new stadium capacity will make it the largest soccer-specific facility in the USL. Several MLS clubs play in stadiums that accommodate fewer than 20,000 fans.
“The stadium’s not about MLS today,” Franklin said. “It’s about this region and it’s about Sac Republic.”
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said the stadium “is a centerpiece of the Railyards and boosts our economic growth.”
“Beyond that, the stadium brings more life and more fun to Sacramento and our core,” McCarty said. “The city is very excited to welcome the larger stadium — allowing more fans to see a professional soccer game in person. We also know that an MLS opportunity is on the horizon.”
No public financing will contribute to the stadium’s construction cost. Tax revenue generated by the increased property value of the 31-acre stadium and entertainment district will help fund infrastructure improvements near the stadium.
Rendering of the Sacramento Republic FC soccer stadium in the Downtown Railyards with 20,000 seats. (Sacramento Republic FC and MANICA)
Wilton Rancheria’s past, and its future
Wilton Rancheria’s history dates back centuries in the Sacramento region, with many of its members and ancestors residing along the Cosumnes River near Wilton and Elk Grove. The tribe’s federal status was terminated in 1958 as part of a broader movement by the federal government to assimilate Native American tribes.
The tribe reorganized its tribal government in 1991 and regained its federal recognition in 2009. In 2022, Wilton Rancheria opened Sky River Casino in Elk Grove, staking its claim as one of the region’s major developers.
Casinos, gas stations and tobacco shops have historically served as primary sources of income for tribes across the country. While other tribes invest millions in sponsoring sports teams, Wilton Rancheria became the first Native American Nation to obtain majority ownership in a men’s professional sports franchise in 2024 when it purchased a majority share of Republic FC.
“We sat on the sidelines for many, many, many years,” Tarango said. “We saw tribes getting into the same businesses that other tribes were doing, which is your typical gas stations, tobacco shops and casinos. Nobody ever stepped outside and wanted to work with cities and counties or even take this on.
“And so for that, I think, that was the biggest jump for us is that if you’re going to make a statement, we’re the capital tribe. The capital city of one of the greatest states. This is meant for us to do.”
Ryan Lillis is the Associate General Manager of News at PBS KVIE.