Athletic Facilities

[HornetFootballFan]

Completely agree with this. The USA stadium is a bare bones bowl, which I would obviously LOVE to have over nothing at all, but the school is counting on building something with design elements that make it more than just a football field. I would love to pull some of the concerts that BMO, SnapDragon and other MLS-style stadiums do. Also, ask the 49ers if they would build an overhang for shade if they could do it all over again!

I will fall to my knees and cry the day I walk into a BMO/SnapDragon-type facility for the first football game there. LOL

Great chat topics. Another couple of reasons I believe the shade cover is a bonus.

1) Washington Husky stadium many say it’s one of the loudest because the roof directs sound from stand into the field better!

2) Year Round Sports whatever sport(s) that might be (fb / College soccer / rugby / SAC Republic) it would bring families to games that during light rain would not normally attend!

3) That first playoff game yrs ago vs Austin Peay? I think was raining and ruined attendance.

Having cover will add more butts in seats in both winter & summer as the afternoon games were too hot and required 6pm starts. Yes better time slot too but now we have more options!

 

[FootballAlum84]

Couple interesting answers at the bottom of this page https://hornetsports.com/sports/2024/10/3/future-sacramento-state-on-campus-stadium.aspx

- a small note about stadium funding…

- there was talk on the board before about the track facility relocating to the soccer field/intramural area. According to this they’re going to upgrade the practice track as the permanent facility.

 

[SDHornet]

8 lanes worth of turns can't fit in the practice field location. I think they'll have to put the track in the current soccer/intramural field and have the soccer programs play in new Hornet Stadium.

 

[Hornet25]

Space is getting tight on campus. Limited options if the school ever wants to upgrade facilities, like baseball. Football needs practice fields.

 

[Green Laser]

8 lanes worth of turns can't fit in the practice field location. I think they'll have to put the track in the current soccer/intramural field and have the soccer programs play in new Hornet Stadium.

A competition track and field venue cannot fit into the current warm up track area. The practice track as I recall only has two lanes on all but the front straightaway. Any chance for a proper track facility at that location ended when the baseball field and the Well were constructed. The venue must include a 8 lane track, seating, enough room for the landing areas for the hammer, javelin etc. and a warm up area adjacent to the venue. I don't know if there is enough room at the current soccer field. Another possible location would be south of the stadium where the current parking lot is. When the track was removed during the Stanford Stadium remodel they built a nice track and field venue across the street.

 

[stingthemgood]

A competition track and field venue cannot fit into the current warm up track area. The practice track as I recall only has two lanes on all but the front straightaway. Any chance for a proper track facility at that location ended when the baseball field and the Well were constructed. The venue must include a 8 lane track, seating, enough room for the landing areas for the hammer, javelin etc. and a warm up area adjacent to the venue. I don't know if there is enough room at the current soccer field. Another possible location would be south of the stadium where the current parking lot is. When the track was removed during the Stanford Stadium remodel they built a nice track and field venue across the street.

If you take the current Hornet Stadium it fits over the footprint of the current Soccer and Rugby fields.

 

[Kadeezy]

Not ideal.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1854588280085369280

 

[Pounder]

Found another article saying they’re building to 12,000. This mean they’re not going MLS, so not to the scale you would want for new Hornet in the first place. It’s very likely for the best.

 

[Hornet25]

Same capacity as their Cal Expo home. Doesn't help, but also doesn't directly compete with a Sac State Stadium.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Good, now we can use sprinturf and move the seating closer.

 

[BuckeyeHornetFan]

Not ideal.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1854588280085369280

I don't see why. One has nothing to do with the other.

If Ron Burkle hadn't pulled out of the original deal -- the Republic would already have a stadium in the Railyards and be MLS. And had that happened, I still don't see how it affects the Hornets path forward with their own stadium deal and move to FBS.

College and pro can easily coexist. You see examples of it everywhere. And in this case we're talking soccer, not a competing football team.

It'll take nothing away from what the Hornets are doing.

 

[Kadeezy]

Good, now we can use sprinturf and move the seating closer.

Good point.

 

[HornetFootballFan]

I don't see why. One has nothing to do with the other.

If Ron Burkle hadn't pulled out of the original deal -- the Republic would already have a stadium in the Railyards and be MLS. And had that happened, I still don't see how it affects the Hornets path forward with their own stadium deal and move to FBS.

College and pro can easily coexist. You see examples of it everywhere. And in this case we're talking soccer, not a competing football team.

It'll take nothing away from what the Hornets are doing.

It takes away the following:

1) The new Sac Republic FC owner I believe is / was a big NIL donor which means he might have less capital for SAC ST donations!

2) losing a potential person to sign a lease Hornet Stadium to help us generate revenues to put towards our payments.

 

[HornetFootballFan]

However.., we are blessed Hornets! Looks like we will get into the PAC12 soon, Even if they lower our initial revenue share by 15-20% compared to Boise St example we will still be bringing in about $8 to $8.5M revenues to support the program.

In addition to student athletic experience fee’s

In addition in my opinion projected Sell out 25K attendance games for every game? TBD

We have Fresno St / San Diego St / Oregon St / Wash State / Boise St etc I think this could all be overflow of 25K seating.

I’d increase ticket prices as well. Have too!

times are good even if our team is struggling this season

 

[BuckeyeHornetFan]

It takes away the following:

1) The new Sac Republic FC owner I believe is / was a big NIL donor which means he might have less capital for SAC ST donations!

2) losing a potential person to sign a lease Hornet Stadium to help us generate revenues to put towards our payments.

1) Not necessarily if he’s generating more revenue and making more money with the new stadium deal.

2) The Republic FC was never a serious option as a tenant. In fact, they’d never been officially discussed by anyone related to Sac State. That was all fan conjecture, especially on this forum.

I mentioned a while back that even IF Republic FC was somehow involved — it would be short term at best. They’ve been focused on the Railyards for years and that was always the end goal. Further, I also mentioned that you don’t see many instances of pro teams sharing with college teams, specifically on the college’s campus.

There’s good reason for that.

IDK why anyone here was expecting something different in that regard.

Again, I stand by what I said. One has nothing to do with the other. And it doesn’t affect what Sac State is working toward.

 

[SDHornet]

I agree with BHF. I viewed any Republic agreement as a means to an immediate cash infusion to help with getting the ball rolling on the stadium project, but long term I thought it would be problematic. If grass was really a requirement then that would have been disastrous for maintenance costs and playing surface in mid to late November for football. There would probably need to be additional locker room/team space otherwise everyone would have to jockey around schedule and equipment to accommodate each other, etc.

Ideally we want to be the only show in town during the fall but there is a little overlap with the soccer season and football season but I wasn't too worried about it. FBS football against name opponents will out-draw any level of soccer being played. If the Republic were/are smart, they will not schedule home games the same day/time as home FBS Hornet football games.

 

[StockonLB]

I agree with BHF. I viewed any Republic agreement as a means to an immediate cash infusion to help with getting the ball rolling on the stadium project, but long term I thought it would be problematic. If grass was really a requirement then that would have been disastrous for maintenance costs and playing surface in mid to late November for football. There would probably need to be additional locker room/team space otherwise everyone would have to jockey around schedule and equipment to accommodate each other, etc.

Ideally we want to be the only show in town during the fall but there is a little overlap with the soccer season and football season but I wasn't too worried about it. FBS football against name opponents will out-draw any level of soccer being played. If the Republic were/are smart, they will not schedule home games the same day/time as home FBS Hornet football games.

-as an outsider, a little wind out of sails to end football season.
-if team was in playoffs would have galvanized the movement to casual followers like myself
-rail yards project also seems to detract, even if they are separate projects/size.
-Fresno, San Diego State, Oregon State also a Pac-12 downer after announcing split.
-side note, Sacramento hosting 2026 NCAA t&f west region. need on campus track renovation done by then, or stadium delayed until after that. maybe they host at Sac City. I have always loved that track, just tarp off bottom rows below aisle to help spectator views at finish

 

[BuckeyeHornetFan]

-rail yards project also seems to detract, even if they are separate projects/size.

You say “seems to detract”. Please explain how and why.

I’ve yet to see any solid facts or reasons provided to support this notion.

Meanwhile I’ve listed numerous examples of collegiate and pro teams/venues existing elsewhere and in close proximity.

-side note, Sacramento hosting 2026 NCAA t&f west region. need on campus track renovation done by then, or stadium delayed until after that. maybe they host at Sac City. I have always loved that track, just tarp off bottom rows below aisle to help spectator views at finish

You and Super Hornet care about track. Most others do not. Track and field doesn’t generate the bulk of the money that helps subsidize other sports/activities and it never will.

Football needs to be the top priority, along with basketball (if they can raise the program to another level). Those are the sports historically proven to generate the most money. So those experiences should be top priority.

Track and field needs to be hosted elsewhere on campus.

 

[StockonLB]

You say “seems to detract”. Please explain how and why.

Exactly as I stated, I’m a casual observer. Sac State was rolling in the FCS, best stretch in history, and being a sports fan I took notice. If they made another run in playoffs it would have galvanized the Sac12 movement with the move to FBS now being officially pursued.

Attendance is similar to previous years, talking to my family and friends in Sacramento area, most aren’t paying more attention now than they were last year to Sac State athletics. A few had heard about potential move, but didn’t follow beyond that. Another playoff run would have been more exposure with ambition out there for all to see.


I’ve yet to see any solid facts or reasons provided to support this notion.

Meanwhile I’ve listed numerous examples of collegiate and pro teams/venues existing elsewhere and in close proximity.

Didn’t criticize this, Sac might be large enough for two such venues, two stadium projects going through approvals will pull resources to each. Any public infrastructure/funding will be pulling from same pot (though sac state has unique connection to state being a university).

You and Super Hornet care about track. Most others do not. Track and field doesn’t generate the bulk of the money that helps subsidize other sports/activities and it never will.

Reality is bidding on a regional meet is big business. The sports commission people care more about these type of events than FCS football. FCS football will bring a team 5 times a year, a few spectators. These regional meets bring thousands of athletes, coaches, trainers, plus a ton of their family/friends/fans for five days. The number of visitors into hotel rooms and related spending overshadows FCS footballs whole season, where most fans are local, drive to game, then go home. Now the gate to Sac St might be better for football, but the ancillary spending and benefit to the region is not. FBS football could change that. It’s not an either/or.

More so, what I was pointing out is that the NCAA grants these meets years in advance, and Sac St is hosting. Will it stop the stadium if all things get aligned? No. But Sac State will have to answer these questions with NCAA regarding the meet when stadium timeline is finalized.

Football needs to be the top priority, along with basketball (if they can raise the program to another level). Those are the sports historically proven to generate the most money. So those experiences should be top priority.
Track and field needs to be hosted elsewhere on campus.

Agree. Athletics doesn’t make money on campus, but basketball and football could come closest to being a net positive financially. Their potential exposure marketing wise for university is greatest as well. Track is not a major factor, and I don’t want to see a track/football stadium, those days are done. They will need to build a new track and do so by 2026 or potentially lose that meet.

 

[Pounder]

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Eh, what’s wrong with Hughes?