NBA Kings minority Owner Kevin Nagle "has bought a controlling interest" in USL Pro club Sacramento Republic FC with "hopes to grow" the team into an MLS franchise, according to Marcos Breton of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Nagle "made his fortune as co-founder of Envision Pharmaceutical Holdings" -- a $3.5B-a-year drug-benefits manager. He also is the "largest local shareholder and executive voting member of the Kings." Nagle "declined to say how much he invested in the Republic or how big of a stake he now owns in the team, saying only that he has 'majority control.'" Nagle’s title with Republic will be Managing Partner. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson called Nagle’s investment "a big win for Republic FC and our efforts to secure an MLS franchise." It "was not immediately clear Thursday whether any other Kings owners besides Nagle will join the new ownership group for the soccer team." But Nagle said, "You’re going to see other (Kings investors) come on board because they want to be part of (the Republic) now" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 9/5).
SUDDEN IMPACT: The Impact on Thursday announced that they will build a "new training facility down the road from Saputo Stadium," and added that they also "will add a second professional soccer team in the city, FC Montreal, which will compete" in USL Pro. The CP's Kelsey Patterson reported the projects "are expected to be up and running by next year." With results on and off the pitch "taking a turn for the worse this season -- the Impact is dead last" in the standings during their third MLS season, and overall attendance at home games is down roughly 10% from '13 -- the organization "felt it was time to right the ship" (CP, 9/4).
