Elk Grove Considers Bringing Major League Soccer To Region With $100M Stadium

ELK GROVE (CBS13) – As Elk Grove kicks around the idea of bringing in a Major League Soccer team, some are questioning if it could work with a professional team already headed to Sacramento.

"You can never have enough too much soccer," one fan said.

That's a good thing, since Sacramento and Elk Grove each want to bring MLS to the region.

The Elk Grove City Council is playing with the idea of helping to fund a $100 million 18,000-seat stadium at a site south of the Promenade Mall.

"Not only does Elk Grove access the entire Sacramento market for soccer fans, but we are really close to Fresno, Stockton and Central Valley. So in a lot of ways, we are really a connecting point," Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis said.

But the man behind bringing professional soccer to Sacramento says MLS stadiums in suburbs have been less successful than those in urban cores.

"I think we can learn from cities that have challenges. Denver, Dallas, and Chicago, all Major League Soccer facilities we built in suburban locations similar to Elk Grove, and their at the lower end of ticket sales," co-founder and president of Sacramento Professional Soccer Warren Smith said.

Smith, who brought the River Cats to West Sacramento, is set to unveil a United Soccer League club next season at Sacramento City College.

"It's the product that's been used in the four of the last five markets to get to Major League Soccer," said Smith.

This is the reason fans say the professional team should be in the capital city.

"I think we should focus on having one and have everybody come together here than having a whole bunch of separate things," soccer fan Javairia Rizwan said.

It also appears that former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, wants to go after the financially struggling CHIVAS USA in Los Angeles and bring them to the potential Elk Grove site.