SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Republic FC announced Thursday morning Wilton Rancheria joined the professional soccer team’s operations as a majority owner and provided an update on a new stadium in the downtown railyards.
Republic FC Chairman and CEO Kevin Nagle will remain an owner of the club, which was founded in 2013, and becomes its managing partner, the team said Thursday in a news release. Wilton Rancheria reportedly becomes the first Native American nation to hold majority ownership in men’s professional sports with the move.
Wilton Rancheria, a federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County, operates Sky River. The tribe’s federal status was restored in 2009; the casino opened in Elk Grove in 2022, the team said.
Jesus Tarango Jr., the tribe’s chairman, said joining team operations reinforces Sacramento’s dedication to inclusivity and opportunity.
“Wilton Rancheria is proud to be the first Tribal Nation to hold majority ownership of a men’s professional sports team, 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.”
Thursday’s announcement also included a proposal from Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg to speed up development of a soccer stadium in the downtown railyards, the team said. Originally publicized in 2022, the stadium’s proposed term sheet vote is scheduled for Tuesday.
Steinberg also said Wilton Rancheria will invest in a housing, entertainment, retail and commercial development just east of the 12,000-seat expandable soccer stadium. There are also plans for a 3,600-seat music venue in the heart of the railyards.
“These developments represent more than just economic growth,” Steinberg said. “It's about building a better place for everyone, with enhanced opportunities for housing, entertainment and commercial activity.”
The stadium would anchor a 31-acre development that will nearly double the size of Downtown Sacramento and create a new neighborhood, according to Republic FC.
“The ancestors of Wilton Rancheria have been stewards of the Sacramento Valley region since time immemorial, including the land at the proposed stadium site,” the team said. “This partnership allows its citizens to continue to flourish on their ancestral lands and while building an enduring legacy for the Tribal Nation.”
Nagle said it’s an honor to welcome the tribe to the Republic FC family.
“As we form this new partnership, it has been very clear that the future of the city, the club and the community that includes the citizens of Wilton Rancheria are immense sources of pride and passion — with a relentless pursuit to protect and grow,” he said.
