USL club Sacramento Republic FC yesterday secured "political support" for a proposed $226M MLS stadium project in the downtown railyard and unveiled "new architectural drawings of a stadium designed to be the 'most intense and intimidating' home turf in the nation," according to Lillis & Kasler of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The City Council "voted 8-0 to approve a nonbinding term sheet for the project." The city is "not being asked to provide any direct subsidy to the construction budget, but city staff will help usher the project through the development process." The city will "spend up to $100,000 on stadium consultants and could be asked by Republic FC to split revenue from a parking facility on city land that may be built near the stadium." The council’s vote was seen by city officials "as a pivotal step as other cities competing with Sacramento struggle to finalize their own stadium plans." Team officials are "expected to attend this weekend’s MLS Cup," although a decision on the league’s future expansion is "not expected until next year." Renderings "show a 25,000-seat stadium with a fully enclosed bowl to trap fan noise, a steep grade for seats aimed at providing an intimate fan experience and an exterior design inspired by the star on Republic FC’s team crest." The stadium could open by March '18, but will "only be built if Sacramento secures" an MLS expansion spot. Team officials said that they "could break ground on the stadium" in September '16. At up to 25,000 seats, the stadium "would be among the largest soccer-specific stadiums in MLS." Club President Warren Smith said that the stadium "could open with fewer than 25,000 seats" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/2).
SUNSHINE STATE OF THINGS: In South Florida, Brian Bandell reported David Beckham’s proposed MLS team "has re-opened its search for a stadium as its plan for a site near the Orange Bowl is on shaky ground." With a decision "required soon for a public referendum, and MLS waiting on Beckham to finalize a location before officially awarding a franchise, Beckham United can't afford to let this problem linger on." The question is whether Beckham United "will stay in the City of Miami, or head west where a large parcel is easier to assemble" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/30). MLS Commissioner Don Garber yesterday appeared on CNBC and addressed the stadium effort in Miami. Garber: “We'll be meeting with their ownership group, if not in the next couple of days certainly in the next few weeks to try to see if we can put a stake in the ground and hopefully finalize having David Beckham and his partners be owners in our league.” Garber added, “David needs to have a great building, a place where fans can call it their own. ... Right now they don't have that plan finalized. They will come to us and ask us possibly to approve a location as early as this weekend at our MLS board meeting in Columbus” ("Squawk On The Street," CNBC, 12/1).
