Sacramento Republic FC’s stadium is closer to reality, but don’t celebrate too soon | Opinion
It was all celebration at Tuesday’s Sacramento City Council meeting, as it unanimously passed a non-binding term sheet to build a gleaming new stadium in the long-dormant railyards for the Sacramento Republic Football Club.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg, council members and attendants wore Republic FC scarves in support of the club. The house chamber was a sea of Old Glory Red, Resilient Red and Egg Shell White.
But one vital component of the stadium deal was missing from Steinberg and the council: A binding term sheet. A real project.
Mayor Steinberg, in the final weeks of eight years in office, deserved a moment in the sun for his hard work in the railyards to be recognized. He deserved a celebration for what he, investors, public leaders and fans have all done over the last eight years to see this stadium become a reality.
Lost in the self-congratulation was how a deal is not yet done. Many moving pieces in the railyards remain unresolved. Nobody has signed on a dotted line. Getting this across the finish line, and so many other issues, will await the next mayor.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the council wanted to have a party, not a discussion about the term sheet.
A balancing act
Council member Katie Valenzuela had some justifiable concerns about whether oil companies would be on the list of businesses that could not pay for their logos to adorn the $217 million, 12,000-seat stadium. She wondered whether union labor would do the construction work. She wanted to clarify these matters in the term sheet, even though it is a non-binding and purely symbolic document.
But the mayor had no time for substance on this night.
“I don’t think this is the time to add that,” Steinberg said of Valenzuela’s proposed motion.
“This term sheet, even though it is not binding, has been so delicately negotiated that I cannot support any changes to these term sheet because it will allow other suggestions and changes to made here,” Steinberg continued.
Valenzuela ended up withdrawing her motion. This was not a night for discussion. The document was approved by a very enthused council 8-0.
Council member Rick Jennings was very excited about this term sheet. “This day is probably the best day of my life,” the council member said on Tuesday.
Hey, who am I to judge what a man says is his greatest day on earth. It’s not like Jennings has ever, for example, won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders.
Oh wait, he did. This super Tuesday was better than winning a Super Bowl?
In all seriousness, this a non-binding contract, subject to change when a new mayor and council come along in less than a month. Council members like Valenzuela are right to bring up concerns in a council meeting.
The time for celebration is over. It’s now time to focus on the road ahead.
Time to get to work
Sacramento’s premier soccer club holds a special place in the hearts of its supporters and regular Sacramentans alike. As the only team to be created and begin here, its success is a true source of local pride.
The stadium is to be constructed adjacent to a new entertainment district. Both hope to open in 2027, although the entertainment proposal isn’t far enough along to even be ready for a non-binding term sheet. If built, both will breathe new life into a railyard district that may finally on the cusp of redevelopment. This new hub of urban life will add more excitement to downtown, rivaling the Golden 1 Center and the surrounding area.
The stadium was made possible by the Wilton Rancheria tribe’s plan to buy a majority stake of Republic FC. The tribe also made history as the first Native American tribe to own a sports team of any kind. That accomplishment is certainly worth celebrating, but it’s not the only thing.
The mayor has done a great job in eight years trying to get a stadium built for Republic FC. And he will deserve to share in the success if and when it happens, with the help of so many others.
The work is far from done.
Let’s get to it.
