Sports

Could Pro Soccer Coexist in Elk Grove and Sacramento?

One soccer team is coming to the region; could it support two?

Soccer fans in the region learned two things Monday: Sacramento is getting a minor league franchise and Elk Grove's mayor-elect is still pushing for a major league team.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and Elk Grove Mayor-Elect Gary Davis both heralded the developments. The Sacramento team will be part of the United Soccer League's Pro division and start playing in 2014; Davis met Saturday in Los Angeles with Don Garber, the chairman of Major League Soccer.

"I don't want to overstate the commitment but there's an interest in bringing a team to our region," Davis told the Sacramento Bee.

Find out what's happening in Elk Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But could the two coexist? Asked if having two teams so close would oversaturate the market, Davis said the two are "apples and oranges."

"MLS is the goal," he said in an email. "From what I gather, USL is several notches below and would only add to the regional excitement for soccer."

Find out what's happening in Elk Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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Readers, what do you think? Could Elk Grove land a major league soccer team? Does bringing a minor league team to Sacramento help or hurt Elk Grove's chances? Tell us in the comments section below.


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