Major League Soccer announced in a statement Friday that due to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic Ron Burkle has decided not to move forward with the acquisition of an MLS expansion team in Sacramento.
The city was awarded an expansion team in October 2019 and had been due to begin play in 2022 before that date was pushed back a year due to the early impact of the pandemic in 2020. Burkle was the lead investor in Sacramento Republic FC, and spearheaded their efforts to join MLS.
MLS will work with Mayor Darrell Steinberg to evaluate possible next steps for MLS in Sacramento.