Business community makes its case for Sacramento State’s Pac-12 move, new stadium
The region’s business interests made their case this week for Sacramento State’s ascension to the Pac-12 conference and for the construction of a new, 25,000-seat football stadium.
At a news conference at Hornet Stadium on Friday, business leaders argued that the project would attract students, boost the local economy and raise Sacramento’s profile.
“It changes capital campaigns. It changes philanthropy. It changes alumni engagement. So it’s not just, ‘We want to be a better sports community.’ It’s really a linchpin for a larger conversation,” said Barry Broome, president and CEO of Greater Sacramento Economic Council.
Civic leaders are betting that the region’s sports viewership will help them make the case that Sacramento can support a Pac-12 team.
Sacramento City Councilman Eric Guerra said Sacramento’s sports television market, by size, ranks 20th in the U.S. The conference, he said, takes that into account, along with universities’ relative size and athletics budget.
Historically, some have viewed Sacramento State as a commuter school. But officials said Friday that they believe that is changing — and that the region has a strong alumni presence that will help fill seats.
Mark Friedman, chairman and founder of Fulcrum Property and vice chair for the economic council, said he believes the university is transitioning away from a predominantly commuter campus, and growing its residential population.
“This amenity will help support that,” he said.
Guerra, the councilman, who attended Sacramento State, said the commuter school reputation was caused by a shortage of housing.
“Now we’ve got more housing being built — not only on campus, but off campus,” he said.
Broome deferred questions about stadium financing to Sacramento State. The school said the stadium will be built using university funds that have been restricted for athletics, plus sponsorships and donations. A university spokesperson said the school would share the stadium’s estimated cost in a few weeks.
Broome said the business community will be committed to buying suites, selling tickets and arranging corporate sponsorships.
“We’re so underestimated as a community. Sacramento punches above its weight,” Broome said. “Someone’s going to take a chance on Sacramento, whether it’s Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, or the Pac-12. And we’re going to blow people away.”
This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 3:06 PM.
