Sports

Sacramento Group Makes Pitch for Major League Soccer in That City

Major League Soccer plans to add four more teams, the commissioner announced last week.

Sacramento soccer advocates last week made a pitch before league officials for their own top-tier professional team, although that city's mayor says Elk Grove could still play a role in hosting a major league team.

“We are on their radar and are gaining steam,” a statement quoted Sacramento Republic F.C. Warren Smith as saying of that team's visit to a Major League Soccer All-Star game in Kansas City.

The league is planning to add four more teams on top of the forthcoming New York team, which would be the 20th. The additional growth was announced last week by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber. 

"Wednesday’s news gives immediate hope to several markets looking to break into the league, such as Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit and Sacramento, to name a few – several of whom had representatives presenting to the MLS Board of Governors here on Wednesday afternoon," the league said in a statement online.

Sacramento is the only local city mentioned in both statements, but that doesn't mean Elk Grove has been forgotten. 

"Eventually I'd like to see [Elk Grove and Sacramento groups] collaborate and be on the same page, and I eventually think we'll get there," Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson told the Sacramento Bee.

Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis also told that newspaper he's open to working with Sacramento investors if it means luring a team to the area.

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What do you think? Could Elk Grove or Sacramento be one of the four new teams? Tell us in the comments section below.

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