MOVING FORWARD. MAYOR STEINBERG: WE WILL WIN OUR QUEST TO BE A MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER CITY. WALTER: SACRAMENTO MAYOR DARRELL STEINBERG REMAINING OPTIMISTIC, DESPITE THE PRIMARY INVESTOR IN SACRAMENTO’S MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER TEAM, PULLING OUT OF THE DEAL. MAYOR STEINBERG: WE MADE A SERIES OF COMMITMENTS TO THE INVESTOR. WE MADE A SERIES OF COMMITMENTS TO THE LEAGUE. WE MADE A SERIES OF COMMITMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE’VE LIVED UP TO EVERY ONE OF THEM. WALTER: PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AREN’T HAPPY ABOUT THE NEWS BUT REMAIN HOPEFUL. HALTOM: IT HURTS TO HEAR THAT, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE SOMEONE ELSE WILL COME IN. I ABSOLUTELY KNOW SOMEONE ELSE WILL COME IN, JUST BECAUSE O HOW MUCH SAC IS BOOMING RIGHT NOW. WALTER: MLS COMMISSIONER DON GARBER AGREE GARBER SAID INTEREST IN OWNING A CLUB IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER. AND I REMAIN INCREDIBLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FINALIZING EXPANSION PLANS FOR OUR 30TH TEAM. MAYOR STEINBERG SAID HE ALSO BELIEVES A REPLACEMENT INVESTOR WILL WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE SOON. IN THE MEANTIME, BUSINESSES IN THE AREA THAT ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM COMING TO TOWN AND BRINGING THE COMMERCIAL BENEFITS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT, ARE DISAPPOINTED. GIESELMAN: VERY UNFORTUNATE. OF COURSE, WE’VE REALLY BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT SOCCER FIELD FOR SO LONG. US BEING IN GOLDEN ONE CENTER, WE DEFINITELY KNOW AND APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF VOLUME THAT SPORTS GAMES, ANYTHING CAN BRING TO THE AREA. WALTER: THE MAYOR SAYS WE’RE DEFINITELY FACED WITH A SETBACK, BUT, MOST OF THE IMPORTANT PIECES ARE STILL IN PLACE. MAYOR STEINBERG: WE DON’T START FROM SCRATCH. WE HAVE AN APPROVED STADIUM PLAN. WE HAVE AN ALREADY APPROVED PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION. WE HAVE LOCAL INVESTORS. ALL WE NEED NOW IS THAT LEAD INVESTOR WHO WILL STEP UP AND FOLLOW THROU
President of Sac Republic FC steps down after investor pulls out of expansion deal
Updated: 9:20 AM PST Mar 1, 2021
Ben Gumpert, the president of Sacramento Republic FC, announced Monday that he is stepping down. The announcement comes after Mayor Darrell Steinberg said Friday that the city’s lead investor for the Major League Soccer expansion has pulled away from his commitment. MLS in a statement said the investor is citing COVID-19 as a reason for withdrawing.”After over four years of life-changing learnings, challenges, tears, laughs, smiles, setbacks, celebrations, and foundational friendships, today I announce that I will be stepping down from my role as President & COO of Sacramento Republic FC,” a statement from Gumpert reads in part. “I do so with a heavy heart, but also one full of immense pride for all that we have accomplished together. I do so knowing that no matter where I go or what new opportunities lie ahead, I will always be a part of Republic FC,” his statement goes on to say. Gumpert said he has agreed to stay on as an adviser and that he is “still confident that a first-class investor will emerge who recognizes the potential of this club and city, and that MLS remains in Sacramento’s future.”This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Ben Gumpert, the president of Sacramento Republic FC, announced Monday that he is stepping down.
The announcement comes after Mayor Darrell Steinberg said Friday that the city’s lead investor for the Major League Soccer expansion has pulled away from his commitment. MLS in a statement said the investor is citing COVID-19 as a reason for withdrawing.
“After over four years of life-changing learnings, challenges, tears, laughs, smiles, setbacks, celebrations, and foundational friendships, today I announce that I will be stepping down from my role as President & COO of Sacramento Republic FC,” a statement from Gumpert reads in part.
“I do so with a heavy heart, but also one full of immense pride for all that we have accomplished together. I do so knowing that no matter where I go or what new opportunities lie ahead, I will always be a part of Republic FC,” his statement goes on to say.
Gumpert said he has agreed to stay on as an adviser and that he is “still confident that a first-class investor will emerge who recognizes the potential of this club and city, and that MLS remains in Sacramento’s future.”
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This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.
