For decades, the Central Valley has been underrepresented in the big four U.S. sports leagues. Sacramento has always been in the shadow of California’s major cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, and Los Angeles. However, one of these leagues just had a major shake-up, when the Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas. Now that there is much less saturation in the California football market, could this be a golden opportunity for a Sacramento NFL expansion?

Sacramento isn’t some dead little farming town. The Sacramento Kings have a loyal fanbase, and despite numerous losing seasons, fans still come out roaring in purple and black. Sacramento Republic FC has the biggest non-MLS fanbase, with around 10,000 fans coming out on average to see them play. They even set a record attendance at Hughes Stadium in 2014 when 20,231 fans came to see them play. Sacramento also has the 20th largest TV-Market in the United States, placing it above 11 current NFL Franchises. Sacramento has more than its fair share of sports fans.

Sacramento NFL flirtations aren’t a new thing. In the 1980s, Al Davis nearly relocated the Raiders to Sacramento, but made a last-second LA-pivot. The 1990s WLAF Surge and CFL Gold Miners, minor-league football teams in Sac, packed crowds at Hughes Stadium and Hornet Stadium proving the hunger from the Sacramento Market. 

In the 1980s a 53,000 seat dual use stadium for MLB and NFL purposes was pitched and began early construction to lure the A’s, Raiders, or a possible NFL or MLB Expansion. Construction eventually stalled though, leaving a concrete ruin next to the demolished Sleep Train Arena. Another NFL/NBA mixed-use dome was proposed at the property in 2007, but taxpayers balked at the idea and the Kings moved to the Golden One arena downtown.

Current rising NFL talents such as Cam Skattebo (New York Giants’ running back) and Jesuit alumni, Laiatu Latu ’19 (Indianapolis Colts’ defensive end) are from the Sacramento Area, and legendary NFL QBs Ken O’Brien (Jesuit High School Alumni) and Aaron Rodgers were both raised in the Valley. Thousands make the drive every home game to Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium to watch the San Francisco 49ers play; and before the Raiders left Oakland, many fans went out to the Oakland Coliseum to cheer on the Raiders. Since 2014 the drive to the Niners game has increased from an hour and a half to Candlestick, to two and a half hours to Levi’s, alienating portions of the Central Valley fanbase.

No serious expansion talk can start without a venue and funding, but luckily Sacramento has a plan for both. Local tribe Wilton Rancheria recently acquired Republic FC, and could be an anchor fund. The tribe owns Sky River Casino and generates around $500 million a year, and could become 30 to 50 percent stakeholders in the team. The NFL could give the team a loan and the state or city could pull together $300-$400 million from bonds, along with sponsors and stadium naming rights. Vivek Ranadive, Sacramento Kings’ owner, also has said in the past he would be interested in an NFL Franchise if the opportunity ever came. An NFL franchise would also pump $400-$500 million into the regional economy every year.

For Sacramento’s football teams there are two main viable options for a future stadium site. The first option is at Cal Expo. Cal Expo is a 350-acre state-owned fairground that is Sacramento Republic FC’s current site until they leave for Railyards (which is the other option for an NFL team). There are over 10,000 parking spots, access to public transportation, and no land-disputes. Sac State is also planning to build a stadium at the old horse racing grounds at Cal Expo, and an NFL stadium there could build a beautiful football culture.

The second option is the Downtown Railyards site. With 244 acres of the historic final station of the Pony Express Railroad, it is the largest U.S. urban infill project in the country. As mentioned before, Republic FC plans to open a $175 million, privately funded stadium at the Railyards, and it is possible that the same ownership group Wilton Rancheria could open an adjacent football stadium minutes from the state capitol and the Sacramento Kings Arena.

Now that the case has been made for why Sacramento should have an NFL team and the how, let’s dream a bit, for fun. How about a team name? Third place goes to Sacramento Valley Vipers, a nod to the rest of the valley hopefully drawing fans from north and south. Second place goes to Sacramento Redwoods, representing NorCal and the City of Trees. The Sacramento Coyotes are my top pick. It’s a fierce brand, and coyotes are numerous throughout the area. How about rivalries? The proximity to San Francisco instantly creates an electrifying rivalry with the 49ers in a game possibly called ‘The Causeway Clash’. Team colors? The team can deck out in green for the city of trees and gold for the Gold Rush the city was built on, and match Sacramento State.

Imagine it’s late October 2034, the sun dropping behind the Sierra Foothills, painting the American River molten orange as 68,000 fans in green and gold pack Coyote Canyon at the Railyards. The lights kick in and the Sacramento Coyotes run out for their first Sunday Night Primetime home game. The wait is over, the Central Valley finally has its team. 

Welcome to Coyote Country.