Capital Public Radio has learned Sacramento Kings President Chris Granger and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will meet with Republic FC President and majority owner, Warren Smith and MLS officials in Portland, Oregon.
Smith has made no secret of the team's desire to become a Major League Soccer franchise and build a new stadium. The team is in its first season with the USL PRO League, which is a step below MLS.
Sac Republic FC says it has already made a strong case on the field and at the turnstiles to be considered for one of four MLS expansion spots. The team has already set the league's single-season home-attendance record (118,000) with five home games remaining. Republic FC is currently in third place in the 14-team USL PRO League.
The MLS has committed to expansion in two cities -New York and Orlando in 2015 and Atlanta for 2017. Miami, Minnesota, and Sacramento are three cities vying for the last remaining spot the league would like to fill by the end of the decade.
Miami's expansion effort is led by retired soccer star, David Beckham.
MLS says expansion teams must have an ownership group with "appropriate financial resources, a stadium plan where the ownership controls the venue, an appropriate market that is attractive to sponsors, television partners and located in an appropriate geographic location, and a history of strong fan support for soccer matches and other sporting events. We also monitor TV market ratings for MLS games and other soccer matches."
This week's meetings are being held in Portland -site of this year's MLS All-Star game.
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