Republic FC Moving Ahead With Stadium Planning

The City of Sacramento and Sacramento Republic FC say they will go ahead with the preliminary work required to build a new soccer stadium at the Railyards, even though Major League Soccer did not choose the city for its most recent expansion.

The team and the city say MLS has told them they are at the front of the line for future expansion. They want to be ready to begin construction when the call comes.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says the cost of property acquisition, design work and a feasibility study will be paid for by the team.

"The beauty of this, it will not be the city. We have owners who are committed to this which is kind of how it has not been in the past.  We have owners that are going to take on the charges that go with everything that we laid out."

Republic FC management says the city will likely contribute to the project with infrastructure, but called the dollar amount "minor."

More than $300 million in City, State of California, and federal funds have already gone to infrastructure projects near the proposed site for new bridges, the relocation of railroad tracks, and the renovation of the Sacramento Valley Train Station. 

The team and the City hope to have the details of the project ironed out by the end of the year.