Sacramento Republic’s MLS future in doubt – The Athletic

By Sam Stejskal, Paul Tenorio and Jeff Rueter, with additional reporting by Meg Linehan

MLS announced on Friday that Ron Burkle will not move forward with an expansion team in Sacramento, putting the city’s hopes of landing a spot in the league in real doubt. 

Burkle was also involved in Sacramento’s NWSL bid. The Athletic reported in August 2020 that the city would receive an expansion team — news that was confirmed by NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird in a press conference in January. It’s not yet clear how Burkle’s withdrawal will affect Sacramento’s efforts in NWSL, but the early impression from sources is that it won’t detract from the team’s aim to join the league in 2022. 

An ownership group led by Burkle was awarded an MLS expansion team in Sacramento in October 2019.