USL Pro club Sacramento Republic FC's "emerging partnership" with the NBA Kings "has suddenly turned the startup squad into a serious contender" to join MLS, according to a front-page piece by Lillis & Kasler of the SACRAMENTO BEE. A contingent led by Mayor Kevin Johnson, Sacramento Kings President Chris Granger and Republic FC President Warren Smith "made a 75-minute presentation Wednesday to top MLS executives touting the city’s strength as a big-league soccer market." The group also "discussed potential sites for a new downtown soccer stadium and scheduled a visit with MLS to Sacramento in September." Sacramento is "in a tight competition with Minneapolis and Las Vegas for the final spot." A group from Las Vegas also "pitched MLS officials in Portland," which last night hosted the league’s annual All-Star Game. Before deciding whether Sacramento "will make the cut, the league wants to visit the market and assess stadium sites." Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive's group is "in discussions to invest in Republic FC in order to bolster Sacramento’s chances of landing an MLS franchise." An agreement between the sides "would likely not be finalized for weeks." The Kings’ involvement in the city’s pitch "gained momentum in recent weeks -- and helped speed up Republic FC’s play for an MLS spot." MLS President & Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott and other MLS officials "have spoken fondly of Ranadive and his partners." A source said that Ranadive’s name "was first mentioned in a meeting of top league officials and owners two weeks ago." The source added that at that moment, Sacramento "jumped from the status of also-ran to top contender" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 8/7). Johnson believes that the Kings' involvement "has boosted the city's prospects for getting a team." Johnson: "We’re trying to play to win." He added that this is a situation "not dissimilar to early 2013, when the city was trying to organize new ownership for the Kings in just a matter of months to keep the team from being sold and moved to Seattle" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/6).
CLARITY FROM CLAURE: In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis reports new Sprint President & CEO Marcelo Claure, who is working with David Beckham to land an MLS team in Miami, will be moving to K.C. as part of his new role, but that "should not alter the chances" of an MLS franchise "coming to fruition in Miami." Miami-based Schwartz Media Strategies President Tadd Schwartz, whose company speaks on behalf of Miami Beckham United, said that Claure "remains committed to securing a stadium site and establishing the MLS expansion team in South Florida" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 8/7).
