Major League Soccer expansion franchise hopefuls Sacramento Republic has launched a Citizen Architect competition for its new soccer-specific stadium.
The contest is part of the United Soccer League club’s #BringItHome initiative that has been put in place to encourage fan participation in the planning of its future downtown home ground. Sacramento Republic also said it wants to ensure the fans and community have a strong presence in the overall design and experience of the planned MLS stadium.
“We want our MLS stadium to reflect Republic FC’s greatest competitive advantage: our fans,” said Sacramento Republic chairman and chief executive, Kevin Nagle. “The Citizen Architect competition reflects that spirit by providing our fans and community a new and creative opportunity to shape the overall design of their new home and the matchday experience.”
Fans can submit design proposals for designated portions of the stadium and surrounding plaza, and entries will be accepted until October 27. The winner will be announced in November, judged by a panel of experts, and incorporated into the new stadium.
Feasibility, creativity and community will be the three criteria that the designs will be judged on.
Sacramento is currently one of 12 cities vying for four MLS expansion slots. MLS has indicated that it will announce at least two of the four expansion cities by the end of 2017.
Other cities vying for an MLS expansion franchise in December include Charlotte (North Carolina), Cincinnati (Ohio), Detroit (Michigan), Indianapolis (Indiana), Phoenix (Arizona), Raleigh/Durham (North Carolina), Nashville (Tennessee), San Antonio (Texas), San Diego (California), St. Louis (Missouri) and Tampa/St. Petersburg (Florida).
