Sacramento State and Cal Expo have formalized an agreement to consider constructing a new football stadium at the Cal Expo fairgrounds. The plan would involve building the facility on land that was previously used for horse racing.
The Cal Expo board of directors approved the start of negotiations in a unanimous vote held in late August. The proposed site is less than three miles from Sacramento State’s main campus and would replace Hornet Stadium, which has served as the university’s primary football venue.
“There is no reason why we can’t have big-time college football here in Sacramento,” said Athletics Director Mark Orr during the board meeting. “We have aspirations to compete at the highest level, and we need a facility to deliver that.”
Sacramento State President Luke Wood aims to open the new stadium, with a capacity of up to 25,000 seats, by Fall 2026. Financing for the project is expected to come mainly from revenue bonds.
Cal Expo CEO Tom Martinez described the partnership as beneficial for both organizations and for Sacramento as a whole. In a joint statement, Wood and Martinez said, “As two state agencies, we’re excited about the potential to create something truly impactful, not just for Sacramento but for the entire region.”
