Sacramento USL Club Signs Jersey Deal With UC Davis Health System ... If It Gets Into MLS

Sacramento Republic FC on Friday announced a deal with the UC Davis Health System to "sponsor the team's jerseys" should the USL club become an MLS expansion franchise, according to Dale Kasler of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Republic FC officials said that the jersey agreement will be "more lucrative than the current sponsorship" with the UC Davis Children's Hospital. Neither side would "disclose financial terms because the deal hasn't been completed." Republic FC was eager to make an announcement in order to "showcase the sponsorship to MLS owners," who will meet this week at the league's All-Star Game in San Jose. Republic FC is "all but guaranteed" an expansion slot in MLS no later than '20. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that the league's "one lingering concern about Sacramento is its scarcity of big corporations, which could compromise the market's ability to support the team financially." Republic FC Managing Partner Kevin Nagle said that more sponsorship deals are "expected to be announced over the next few months." Republic FC is speaking to several companies about "naming rights for the team's proposed new downtown stadium" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/23).

THE WAITING GAME: In Sacramento, Mark Billingsley noted Republic FC President Warren Smith during a Q&A session last week for approximately 1,000 season-ticket holders said that he "expects to receive word" this week from MLS on an "updated timetable for Sacramento's entrance into the league." Smith said that in private talks with MLS officials in the past, he has been "told to stay the course and Sacramento will be in MLS." Smith hopes to be "given the nod so he can break ground on a new stadium as soon as possible." Smith said that having a team in the new stadium by the '19 MLS season is a "realistic expectation if he gets the green light" this week (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/24). Nagle said that representatives from Republic FC will "attend the MLS All-Star Game in San Jose on Thursday," and MLS officials have invited team reps to "exclusive events during the lead-up to the game" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/22).