MLS may "finally choose Sacramento as its next site for expansion, perhaps within days," as the league's BOG meets today in L.A. to discuss expansion, according to Marcos Breton of the SACRAMENTO BEE. Sacramento has "never been more ready to finally get the nod," as USL club Sacramento Republic FC has a "billionaire owner at the ready" in lead investor and Penguins co-Owner Ron Burkle. Recent proposals by the city to incentivize a downtown MLS stadium signify that a "far-away future of activity, commerce, housing and development on a 244-acre site -- one of the biggest urban landfill projects in America -- may finally be at hand after decades of talking about it." Sacramento "stands to get a privately-financed development deal in exchange for cutting red tape" for the development partners. Burkle is likely "not buying into Sacramento just to own a soccer team," but as a "businessman because of the promise of the city and the future of that 244-acre site." Now, a "big win for Sacramento is ready to happen after more than five years of trying" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/18). In Sacramento, Michael McGough noted the city "feels good about its chances" for an MLS expansion team, whether a decision is made at the L.A. meetings or not. Meanwhile, the levels of optimism in St. Louis for an MLS team "seem to have faded a bit" since '18 (SACRAMENTO BEE, 4/18).
