Football
ESPN staff 8y

MLS officials to visit Sacramento to discuss expansion proposal

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber will discuss the expansion proposal of Sacramento Republic FC in the California capital on April 14, the league announced.

Garber and his deputy Mark Abbott will meet with officials from the USL club and tour the proposed site of a privately financed $226 million stadium in the Railyards district.

"We are thrilled and honored by the opportunity to host Commissioner Garber and Deputy Commissioner Abbott and take another important step forward in our pursuit of an MLS club," Republic managing partner Kevin Nagle said in a statement.

"As I've told the Commissioner in the past, when it comes to the passion of our fans and the commitment of our community, you truly have to see it to believe it. We look forward to hosting the Commissioner and showing him first hand why Sacramento is ready for MLS."

As MLS looks to expand to 28 teams, Garber said in December that "Sacramento will be very high on our list of next clubs to come into the league."

The USL team averaged more than 11,000 fans a game last season at Bonney Field, and both the city council and mayor Kevin Johnson have shown support for the club and stadium development.

MLS will expand to 24 teams by 2020 with new clubs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Miami, while Sacramento is a candidate along with San Antonio, Austin, St. Louis and Indianapolis for a second wave of expansion to reach Garber's 28-team goal.

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