Could a last minute monkey wrench in Sacramento Railyard Soccer Stadium deal resurrect Elk Grove soccer stadium?

Yesterday, the Sacramento Central Labor Council held a Downtown Sacramento news conference to express concern about the proposed Railyard Development. One of the main attractions for the development is Sacramento Republic FC's 12,000-seat soccer stadium.

Speaking to the audience was Fabrizio Sasso of the labor council. During his presentation, Sasso voiced numerous concerns about the soccer stadium, which will serve as the home of the Sacramento Republic FC. The team's majority owner is the Wilton Rancheria, which also owns Elk Grove's Sky River Casino.

"We are here to raise serious concerns about the deal on the table," Sasso said. "This is about how public money is spent and who benefits."

Sasso argued that Sacramento is proposing $92 million in infrastructure improvements for private developers while adding only six percent affordable housing in the development area.

"We can't afford another corporate giveaway," he said. 

Focusing on the proposed Republic FC stadium, Sasso said, "This deal offers just $14.5 million in benefits, and that's only for the Republic FC in the form of ticket giveaways, and volunteers for community events." 

He added, "We need a plan for economic revitalization that actually works for workers, not a gamble on a soccer stadium." 

See Sasso's entire commentary below. 

Unrelated, during the recent Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce's Cap to Cap advocacy trip to Washington, DC, Elk Grove City Council members were reportedly talking up moving the Republic FC stadium to Elk Grove. The trip took place in early May, just days after the Sacramento Zoo relocation plan was scuttled, and city council members were scrambling to fill the void created by the embarrassing loss. 

Not surprisingly, the site that city council members floated as a potential landing spot for the FC Republic soccer stadium was the 100 acres previously allocated for the failed relocation of the Sacramento Zoo. From the perspective of the Wilton Rancheria, the zoo parcel on Kammerer Road is adjacent to their thriving Sky River Casino and would be a tremendous drawing card for both enterprises.  

The Sacramento City Council is expected to vote on the Railyard infrastructure proposal during their meeting on Tuesday, June 10.