MLS expansion hopefuls Sacramento Republic FC are set to celebrate Commissioner Don Garber and Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott's visit with a block party on Thursday – and they helped their most devoted fans get into a festive spirit with some promising new renderings of the supporters' section at their planned new stadium.
The ambitious USL club is working with the city of Sacramento on plans for a $226 million soccer-specific stadium should it earn a place in Major League Soccer, and on Wednesday Republic FC rolled out a litany of “design choices” for the area behind one goal that will someday be the home of the Tower Bridge Battalion and other independent fan groups.
Created after a survey process that included more than 4,000 respondents and focus groups comprising upwards of 700 participants, Republic FC's plans also took cues from the “hinchada,” a South American term referring to the legions of hardcore fans who provide their teams with the loudest, most passionate support.
Proposed features include a dedicated supporter section with separate entrances from the rest of the venue, standing-room seating with optional fold-down seats, a pulley system for tifo, capo stands, a fog machine and an exclusive “beer hall” space for supporters before, during and after matches. Taking inspiration from the name of their most prominent group, Republic FC are even proposing “tower bridges” – two platforms above the section where more casual fans can take in the sights and sounds of the spectacle.
“Republic FC hopes to serve a broad and diverse array of Sacramentans through this multi-purpose facility, but the core audience is and will always be fans of Republic FC and of the world’s game in general,” explained a club press release. “Republic FC is creating not just a great stadium, but a great soccer-specific stadium.”
Garber and Abbott will visit Republic FC on Thursday to discuss the club's proposal for joining MLS as an expansion team. MLS announced in December that it plans to expand to 28 teams in the future. A total of 20 teams currently play in MLS, with three more – Atlanta, Minnesota and LAFC – scheduled to join the league in the coming years.
Miami is expected to fill the 24th slot, but Sacramento is the frontrunner for one of the four that follow.
