'Sacramento State Plans Construction of New Stadium, Aims for Pac-12 Invitation'

Sacramento State's FCS program announced on Thursday its plans to construct a new stadium, in hopes of receiving an invitation from the rebuilding Pac-12 conference.

This announcement comes amidst a fierce competition between the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences for schools, at a time when there is a shortage of available programs in the Western region.

Located in California's capital city, Sacramento State is preparing for its bid to join the Pac-12 by building a new facility with a minimum capacity of 25,000 seats.

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During a press conference, Sac State president Luke Wood stated that the stadium would also be utilized for soccer and rugby matches, as well as hosting commencements.

Wood emphasized, "This will be a place where the community can come together and celebrate together. This will be a stadium where teams can compete on a national stage and showcase the best of Sacramento State, our city, and our region."

The proposed stadium will be built at the current site of Hornet Field, which currently has a seating capacity of 21,195. There is no immediate information on how the project will be funded.

Local leaders are showing their support for the project.

California State Senator Angelique Ashby stated in a news release, "Sacramento State is ready to take the national stage with the elevation of our university to the Pac-12. Today's stadium announcement is a major step forward for the Hornet Nation, our region, and the state of California. We have the media market, the talent, and a strong alumni community to not only support this move, but to help the Hornets continue to excel in multiple sports."

Sacramento is home to the NBA team, the Sacramento Kings, which has a strong local following. The city will also be hosting the Oakland Athletics for the next three seasons until their new ballpark in Las Vegas is completed.

Sacramento State has been a member of the Big Sky conference since 1996, but has recently elevated its football program.

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The Hornets have qualified for the FCS playoffs four times since 2019, including winning first-round games in the past two seasons. This is a significant improvement, as they had never previously qualified for the FCS playoffs.

In 1988, Sacramento State made it to the Division II playoffs, winning two games and reaching the semifinals before ultimately losing to North Dakota State.

The Hornets have also achieved notable victories against Pac-12 teams, including a 30-23 win against Stanford last season. They have also defeated Oregon State in 2011 and Colorado in 2012. Oregon State is still a member of the Pac-12.