SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A new Sacramento Republic FC stadium is being planned for the city’s Railyards District.
Stadium plans were announced Thursday by new Republic FC majority owner Wilton Rancheria and Sacramento city leaders.
The proposed stadium is slated to anchor an entertainment district at the Railyards that will be filled with housing, retail and commercial development and a 3,600-seat music venue.
City officials said existing historic buildings in the Central Shops will be transformed into a live music venue with $95 million in private funding.
The Central Shops consist of eight historic buildings that served as one of the country’s largest industrial sites in the early 20th century.
Tribal and city leaders did not mention a name for the proposed music venue, which is estimated to be completed by 2027 — a year after the proposed soccer stadium. Renderings of the music venue were not released.
A tribal spokesperson told ABC10 there are no current plans regarding gaming services at the proposed stadium development.
“These developments represent more than just economic growth,” Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said. “It’s about building a better place for everyone, with enhance opportunities for housing, entertainment and commercial activity.”
The Sacramento City Council will vote on a term sheet outlining stadium plans on Nov. 12.
Recent Railyard developments include the Wong Center and the AJ affordable housing apartment complex.
Kaiser Permanente is also planning to build an eight-story hospital in the Railyards area.
Who is Wilton Rancheria?
Wilton Rancheria is Sacramento County's only federally recognized tribe and operates Sky River Casino in Elk Grove.
By becoming majority owner, Wilton Rancheria becomes the first Native American Tribe to hold a majority stake in a men’s professional sports team.
The tribe regained its federal status in 2009 after it was terminated by the federal government in 1959. According to the tribe’s website, Wilton Rancheria’s government is divided into four separate branches — a General Council, an Executive Branch, a Legislative Branch and a Judicial Branch.
Jesus Tarango Jr., who was born and raised in Sacramento, serves as the tribe’s chairman. In 2020, he was elected as the tribe’s young chairman.
During the stadium announcement, Tarango said the tribe joining team operations reinforces Sacramento’s dedicated to inclusivity and opportunity.
“Wilton Rancheria is proud to be the first Tribal Nation to hold majority ownership of a men’s professional sports, an industry where ownership has not traditionally reflected the diversity of its fans or surrounding communities,” Tarango said. “Wilton Rancheria has always been a part of Sacramento’s history, but this partnership marks a new chapter for us, with an opportunity to help write its future.”
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