If they are keeping the racehorsing grandstands, that would be lipstick on a horse's ass.
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Athletic Facilities
- Thread starter Phantom Hornet
- Start date
SochorField
Active member
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Kadeezy
Active member
100% agree with you. But you'd have to think certain infrastructure would remain, as there were major event spaces renovated about 10 years ago. There would have to be huge investments in a covered home side that has suites, media space, locker rooms, and more.
I spent the last couple days reaching out to State Fair, Department of General Services, SacBee, and Sac State contacts that I trust - nothing firm but most say the Hornets and a "new" stadium at Cal Expo is most likely outcome right now, wheels are in motion, pivot happened a couple months ago.
Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo, has made statements expressing excitement about the future of Cal Expo, even amidst changes like the end of horse racing and Sacramento Republic FC's planned departure.
In July 2025, during the State Fair, Martinez said, "I think there's opportunities now to do even better... I'm not only optimistic, but I'm excited. I wish I could share more... We have some outstanding developments we're working on that I believe will be great for the next few generations that come to Cal Expo".
Sacramento State football stadium up for discussion on Cal Expo agenda
Cal Expo and Sacramento State to discuss building a new football stadium in a potential exploratory partnership.
www.abc10.com
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Green Laser
Active member
I don't see a potential stadium at Cal Expo as a deal breaker. If we are able to partner with another state agency to help build the stadium and it's mutually beneficial why not take advantage of the opportunity?
We are not talking about a stadium in some remote location, Cal Expo is only three miles north of campus a straight shot up Howe Ave. the American River Bike Trail also connects both locations. I get the convenience of walking across campus to attend games, I'm sure that setting up game day shuttles from campus wouldn't be hard to do.
Consider that Snapdragon Stadium is also three miles from the San Diego State Campus, Allegiant Stadium is three miles from the UNLV campus, Autzen Stadium is two miles from the Oregon campus and the Rose Bowl is twenty miles from the UCLA campus. Both Sac State and Cal Expo are centrally located and easily accessible to all the major population centers of our market. We need to take advantage of that and market the program to the broader Sacramento community.
Twenty five percent of the Cal Expo site is tied up with the horse race track, horse barns etc. For the first time since 1860 the State Fair was without horse racing this year. Golden Gate Fields was the last full time track in Northern California and that closed last year. The horses based there went to the few remaining tracks in Southern California leaving the County Fairs and State Fair without horses. There was a year round harness racing operation based at the track but Cal Expo canceled it, apparently not enough income to justify keeping the facility open. So horse racing will never return and the soon to be weed covered track and 22,000 seat grandstand are currently a liability to Cal Expo.
I don't see how a potential new stadium at Cal Expo could possibly be a negative for Sac State. Our teams would still use the existing athletic facilities at Sac State for conditioning and practice and have a state of the art stadium ready for game day.
We are not talking about a stadium in some remote location, Cal Expo is only three miles north of campus a straight shot up Howe Ave. the American River Bike Trail also connects both locations. I get the convenience of walking across campus to attend games, I'm sure that setting up game day shuttles from campus wouldn't be hard to do.
Consider that Snapdragon Stadium is also three miles from the San Diego State Campus, Allegiant Stadium is three miles from the UNLV campus, Autzen Stadium is two miles from the Oregon campus and the Rose Bowl is twenty miles from the UCLA campus. Both Sac State and Cal Expo are centrally located and easily accessible to all the major population centers of our market. We need to take advantage of that and market the program to the broader Sacramento community.
Twenty five percent of the Cal Expo site is tied up with the horse race track, horse barns etc. For the first time since 1860 the State Fair was without horse racing this year. Golden Gate Fields was the last full time track in Northern California and that closed last year. The horses based there went to the few remaining tracks in Southern California leaving the County Fairs and State Fair without horses. There was a year round harness racing operation based at the track but Cal Expo canceled it, apparently not enough income to justify keeping the facility open. So horse racing will never return and the soon to be weed covered track and 22,000 seat grandstand are currently a liability to Cal Expo.
I don't see how a potential new stadium at Cal Expo could possibly be a negative for Sac State. Our teams would still use the existing athletic facilities at Sac State for conditioning and practice and have a state of the art stadium ready for game day.
HornetFootballFan
Active member
YES AGREE. If Cal Expo has budget $$ to contribute like extra $100M and give SAC ST the property. We would have full control, ticket $, concessions $, advertising $, Concert Revenues that could be in conjunction with lease events to Cal Expo during offseason.
Build a pedestrian bridge at AR Walkway / Carlson Drive park. Walking distance to Stadium from campus. 1.5Mi.
SochorField
Active member
Would Cal Expo be a temporary stadium situation for Sac State, while an on-campus stadium is built? The land would have to be leased by CSUS, correct? How long would Sac State want to be in lease situation?
Is this the plan? What is the plan/goal?
Does 40,000 seat stadium sound a bit ambitious? There is nothing wrong with packing a 25,000 seat venue. I mean, Cal and Stanford are struggling to draw 35,000 (unless they are ranked every 10 years)....San Jose State doesn't get close to that. California is tough for college athletics these days.
Is this the plan? What is the plan/goal?
Does 40,000 seat stadium sound a bit ambitious? There is nothing wrong with packing a 25,000 seat venue. I mean, Cal and Stanford are struggling to draw 35,000 (unless they are ranked every 10 years)....San Jose State doesn't get close to that. California is tough for college athletics these days.
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40k is a lot, but throwing out that number means that Cal Expo is expected to contribute something significant enough to do a full build out. Sac State can't currently fill it, but this won't strictly be for football games. Big picture.
I gotta see how they want to incorporate the current grandstands though. I can't envision it yet and that's my biggest concern.
Jake Gadon said that they've been discussing this plan for weeks. But I have to go with @Kadeezy and believe it's been a couple of months and there is an actual plan they're ready to propose. Please get this done quickly though.
HeavyistheClown
Active member
So Wood said that sports are the front door to the University and campus. So now the front door is going to be Cal Expo? The driver of sports is to get people on the sleepy little campus, now they want to outsource it?
I knew they would never get rid of the track at Hornet Stadium, that was all BS. This podcast verifies that the school wants to expand track & field (yawn) and needs another location for football. If the stadium is condemned, how are they going to host T&F there?
If they have to modernize the stadium for T&F, why can’t they modernize it for football? I call BS on not having enough room. They didn’t seem to think space was an issue last Sept.
No tailgating is a BIG no go. If they don’t allow it, might as well close up shop.
I’d rather stay in FCS, have a modern budget attainable 18,000 seat stadium, with tailgating, history/traditions, students and showcasing the campus to the general public. Oh wait, they screwed the pooch by leaving the Big Sky. Brilliant!
I knew they would never get rid of the track at Hornet Stadium, that was all BS. This podcast verifies that the school wants to expand track & field (yawn) and needs another location for football. If the stadium is condemned, how are they going to host T&F there?
If they have to modernize the stadium for T&F, why can’t they modernize it for football? I call BS on not having enough room. They didn’t seem to think space was an issue last Sept.
No tailgating is a BIG no go. If they don’t allow it, might as well close up shop.
I’d rather stay in FCS, have a modern budget attainable 18,000 seat stadium, with tailgating, history/traditions, students and showcasing the campus to the general public. Oh wait, they screwed the pooch by leaving the Big Sky. Brilliant!
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HeavyistheClown
Active member
What about the student fan experience is #1 priority? What about being used for soccer and student club sports? More BS.
Now, all the students who had the fee shoved down their throat have to walk 6.4 miles round trip from their dorms to the facility, across a river with no bridge.
There will be five Hornet football games a year at Cal Expo, the stadium will be designed for everything but football.
This will be designed for motocross, lifted truck mudbog racing, swine judging at the State Fair, camel racing, midget wrestling and craft fair events. Woohoo
If they retain the grandstands it will scream half ass Jankyville.
