Sacramento State has unveiled plans to construct a new football stadium, aimed at bolstering the university’s sports program and potentially facilitating a leap to the highest echelons of college football. The proposed multisport facility, announced on Thursday, is designed to accommodate the football team, men’s and women’s soccer teams, and men’s and women’s rugby teams. Additionally, the stadium is envisioned to serve as a venue for various sporting events, concerts, and graduations.
The new stadium, slated to be built on the site of the current Hornet Stadium, which dates back to 1969 and has a capacity of approximately 21,195 spectators with the inclusion of temporary stands. Sacramento State has enlisted the architectural services of Populous to design the stadium, which is anticipated to seat a minimum of 25,000 attendees and will boast a horseshoe design comprising student sections, premium seating, and boxes. Renderings of the stadium are set to be revealed in the coming weeks.
School President Luke Wood emphasized the transformative impact of the stadium project on Sacramento State, stating, “The construction of this new, multi-use stadium will take our athletic game experiences to a new level.” The facility is poised to benefit multiple sports teams, including football, soccer, and rugby, reflecting the outcomes of a feasibility study conducted in 2023. Sacramento State currently competes in the Big Sky conference at the FCS level, with the Hornets clinching seven conference championships last season and securing FCS playoff berths in football for the past three seasons.
Meanwhile, outside group SAC 12 is actively pursuing the elevation of Sacramento State’s football program from the FCS to the FBS level, targeting potential invitations to the Pac-12 or Mountain West conferences. The strategic move aims to bolster the conference membership of both the Pac-12 and Mountain West, with conferences seeking to meet the minimum program requirement. SAC 12 envisions a comprehensive strategy involving increased investment, support for student-athletes through NIL opportunities, and enhancements to athletic facilities to position Hornet athletes as contenders within the Pac-12 collegiate landscape.
As Sacramento State initiates the development of the stadium and strategizes towards potential conference realignment, the university’s prominence in the country’s 20th-largest media market offers significant leverage. With a student population exceeding 30,000, Sacramento State ranks as the fourth-largest university within the Cal State system. The recent stadium announcement signals a pivotal progression towards advancing the athletic profile of Sacramento State and enhancing its competitive standing within collegiate sports.