Could a last minute monkey wrench in Sacramento Railyard Soccer Stadium deal resurrect Elk Grove soccer stadium?
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| Have Elk Grove City Council members been trying to lure Wilton Rancheria's Republic FC Soccer stadium away from Sacramento? |
Yesterday, the Sacramento Central Labor Council held a Downtown Sacramento news conference to express concern about the proposed Railyard Development. One of the main attractions for the development is Sacramento Republic FC's 12,000-seat soccer stadium.
Speaking to the audience was Fabrizio Sasso of the labor council. During his presentation, Sasso voiced numerous concerns about the soccer stadium, which will serve as the home of the Sacramento Republic FC. The team's majority owner is the Wilton Rancheria, which also owns Elk Grove's Sky River Casino.
"We are here to raise serious concerns about the deal on the table," Sasso said. "This is about how public money is spent and who benefits."
Sasso argued that Sacramento is proposing $92 million in infrastructure improvements for private developers while adding only six percent affordable housing in the development area.
"We can't afford another corporate giveaway," he said.
Focusing on the proposed Republic FC stadium, Sasso said, "This deal offers just $14.5 million in benefits, and that's only for the Republic FC in the form of ticket giveaways, and volunteers for community events."
He added, "We need a plan for economic revitalization that actually works for workers, not a gamble on a soccer stadium."
See Sasso's entire commentary below.
Unrelated, during the recent Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce's Cap to Cap advocacy trip to Washington, DC, Elk Grove City Council members were reportedly talking up moving the Republic FC stadium to Elk Grove. The trip took place in early May, just days after the Sacramento Zoo relocation plan was scuttled, and city council members were scrambling to fill the void created by the embarrassing loss.
Not surprisingly, the site that city council members floated as a potential landing spot for the FC Republic soccer stadium was the 100 acres previously allocated for the failed relocation of the Sacramento Zoo. From the perspective of the Wilton Rancheria, the zoo parcel on Kammerer Road is adjacent to their thriving Sky River Casino and would be a tremendous drawing card for both enterprises.
The Sacramento City Council is expected to vote on the Railyard infrastructure proposal during their meeting on Tuesday, June 10.
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Sounds like the Sac Central Labor Council is starting to put the squeeze on the Railyard project--cut us a better deal for the workers, or we flex our political muscle and make life living hell for you City of Sacramento politicians!
Kinda figured "Easy-Mark" Elk Grove would be mentioned sooner or later, considering that the tribe is the majority owner of the Sac Republic team. The tribe doesn't need this union static and Elk Grove leaders won't blink twice before opening the taxpayer's vault to throw cash their way if they build the stadium on their home turf.
Besides embellishing the Mayor's political resume, all five electeds would love to do right by the tribe so they can slurp up the potential campaign contributions that may come their way. Before Easy Mark Elk Grove starts drooling at the mouth however, I would remind them of the City of Irwindale stadium deal with the Raiders in 1987. Irwindale paid the Raiders a $10 million non-refundable deposit, and the team laughed all the way to the bank because they played Irwindale as a bargaining chip to get a better deal from Oakland.
Here we go again.
Ha Ha! You're killin me!! :) :) :)
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