Vivek Ranadive could make Sacramento the frontrunner for MLS expansion.
Sacramento's MLS expansion chances may be about to get a big boost. Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive has had talks with Sacramento Republic of USL PRO as he explores buying the club and trying to make them MLS's newest expansion team, according to the Sacramento Bee.
MLS intends to expand to 24 teams by 2020 and while they have committed to teams in New York, Orlando, Atlanta and Miami, they still have one more expansion team to award. Several cities are in contention for the team, from Minneapolis to Austin to San Antonio, but Sacramento has been viewed as more of a long shot. It doesn't have the big-time money of some of the other bidders and isn't a big media market. Ranadive couldn't change the size of the market, but he could bring the big money MLS craves.
Sacramento has already shown that it will provide the local support necessary for the team, with the Republic drawing massive crowds to matches. They drew more than 20,000 fans three times at Hughes Stadium to begin the season and since their new 8,000-seat stadium was completed this summer, they have sold out every match there.
Ranadive has already worked closely with the city and mayor Kevin Johnson to get a new arena built for the Kings, keeping the team from moving to Seattle, and would stand the best chance possible of getting a stadium deal done for the Republic, if he buys the team. That could be an expansion of Bonney Field, the stadium that was just finished for the Republic, or a new facility.
Ranadive and Johnson will reportedly be in Portland for the MLS All-Star Game, where they will meet with league officials to discuss Sacramento's expansion chances. They will not be able to offer a giant market like Minneapolis, which is important in a time when the league is pushing to increase lagging TV ratings, but they could offer an otherwise enticing bid. Ranadive would provide the money, a facility could be built and their lower division support is second to none. Add in that they could be the ideal rival for the San Jose Earthquakes and the Republic could be verging on a near-perfect expansion bid.