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As MLS closes in on adding Las Vegas, Sacramento Republic faces long wait to move up

As Las Vegas solidifies as the location for the MLS’ next expansion team, Sacramento’s hopes have found little traction after lead investor Ron Burkle backed out of a deal last February that would have built a new soccer stadium in the Railyards just north of downtown.

According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, the city and Sacramento Republic FC are still searching for an investor to take on the roughly $600 million endeavor covering stadium costs and the expansion fee to join MLS. But no deal is close and the team faces a long wait to ever move up to the premier soccer league in the United States.

Las Vegas is expected to become the 30th team to join the MLS, commissioner Don Garber said this week, after expansion teams in St. Louis and Charlotte join the league in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The league has grown from 10 teams in 2004 to 27 clubs.

The 29th spot was Sacramento’s place. In the fall of 2019, the league held a big announcement at The Bank in downtown Sacramento, with Garber working the crowd and Burkle on stage grinning. The team’s logo was added to the MLS website.

When Burkle backed out, Republic FC and current owner Kegin Nagle were essentially sent back to square one. Finding a billionaire investor is the top priority and biggest impediment towards Sacramento joining the North America’s top soccer league.