Sacramento State is looking to score a touchdown with a new stadium for its expanding football program, and it seems Cal Expo is eager to play ball. In a move away from the original plan to build on campus, Sacramento State is partnering with Cal Expo to transform the site known for horse racing into a hub for Hornet football.
After the demise of horse racing left Cal Expo with a vacancy, Sacramento State was more than willing to fill the void. Reports from ABC10 indicate that the university is trying to really level up their athletics with this move. "It was never that it was not going to work on campus; it was more that Cal Expo provides us an opportunity for us to go bigger," Sacramento State President Luke Wood said. Plans include a new field, modular facilities, and grandstand upgrades, with a completion target set for fall 2026.
Cal Expo's CEO, Tom Martinez, highlights the benefits of abundant parking and exceptional accessibility. "Look, there is not a venue in the region that has this many parking spaces," Martinez told ABC10, delineating the potential of the location. The university's Athletic Director, Mark Orr, envisions this step as a catalyst towards elevating Sacramento State to an FBS status, a goal they are unabashedly committed to.
With a 50-year permit or lease eyed with Cal Expo, Sacramento State is clearly setting its sights on a long-term game plan. The cost is still a conversation left to be finalized, but President Wood indicated some early cost-saving advantages of the move in a statement obtained by CBS Sacramento. It's confirmed that additional stands, locker room renovations, and a refresh for current stands are all part of the playbook. The university hopes, with fingers crossed, that this venture will prove a strategic win for the Hornets' home advantage.
As teams begin to metaphorically huddle up to move the project forward, sweeps of studies, renderings, and the necessary paperwork are underway. While there's still ground to cover before the proposed stadium opens, it seems Sacramento State is more than ready to tackle this ambitious project head-on. Expect to see more updates as the university and Cal Expo work to convert this vision into reality, setting the stage for a new era of Hornet football.
