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MLS Executive 'Incredibly Impressed' By Sacramento Bid For Professional Soccer Team

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Major League Soccer executives learned more about site plans for a professional soccer field at the downtown rail yards on Friday.

Soccer fans gathered to hear from MLS executives at the end of their two-day area tour.

"I leave incredibly impressed with what I've seen," said MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott.

Mayor Kevin Johnson spoke confidently about Sacramento's chances of getting an MLS team.

"We expect to have a brand new soccer stadium right out these doors in 2018," he said.

MLS officials said they didn't want to compare cities or sites they were looking at. They toured an Elk Grove site on Friday morning. But they were impressed with the downtown rail yard plans and it's no secret they like having teams in urban areas.

The Sacramento rail yard investor group says it has enough financing to get the team here and could raise more funds if needed. The rail yards section is the one of the largest urban infill projects in the country.

Fans came out in force on Thursday night showing their support near where officials were having dinner before a block party later that night.

Johnson believes Sacramento is on its way to becoming a city with major sport teams and unmatched community spirit.

"We know what it takes and we know how to come together as a region," he said.

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