Prior to Friday night, Sacramento seemed to be headed to MLS and the NWSL. Both leagues had already announced the acceptance of the expansion bids, which were submitted by Sacramento Republic FC. The moves would make Sacramento the next big soccer city in the United States. But the bid quickly fell apart when the lead investor, Ron Burkle, unexpectedly dropped out. The change in fortune shows how fragile MLS expansion bids can be.
The Sacramento Republic joined the USL in 2014 and immediately made an impact. They broke league attendance records from day one and appeared to be a hotbed for the sport.