National honor for the man behind the curtain in Sacramento’s major league soccer quest

Billionaire investor Ron Burkle and Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg rightfully won plaudits last fall for Sacramento’s successful bid for a Major League Soccer franchise.

The man they credit for working diligently behind the scenes just won some recognition of his own.

Republic FC president and chief operating officer Ben Gumpert and native Sacramentan was named Tuesday to the Sports Business Journal 40 Under 40 list, spotlighting young sports industry leaders nationally.

Since joining Republic FC in 2017, Gumpert has served the dual role of managing the city’s current lower-tier soccer team and doing the work to win an MLS bid. That’s included criss-crossing the country to woo investors and to work with MLS officials over a two-year span to solidify Sacramento’s bid amid competition from a half-dozen other cities.

The Republic will begin construction of a $300 million stadium in the downtown railyard this year and are expected to launch the MLS team in 2022.

Team owners lauded Gumpert on Tuesday. “He has led the charge to create a club intent on making our region an incredible place to live, and ready to compete at the highest levels of soccer,” investor Kevin Nagle said.

“Ben’s accomplishments in the sports industry, especially his achievements in Sacramento, are well-deserving of such a prestigious honor,” said investor Matt Alvarez.

A Rio Americano high school graduate, Gumpert previously worked for the San Francisco Giants and the NBA’s marketing and business operations division before coming back to Sacramento as chief marketing officer for the Sacramento Kings.

“We are so fortunate that Ben Gumpert came home to Sacramento to put his impressive drive, passion and analytical skill to work building two great sports teams, a new basketball arena, and now a new stadium for Major League Soccer,“ Mayor Darrell Steinberg said.