MLS says Burkle backs out on Sacramento expansion team, News+Notes,
Major League Soccer says Ron Burkle has backed out of plans for an expansion team in Sacramento that was scheduled to start play in 2023.
The league said in a statement Friday night that Burkle’s decision was “based on issues with the project related to COVID-19.”
MLS announced the Sacramento Republic as its 29th team on Oct. 21, 2019, and said then the team would start play in 2022. MLS said July 17 that Sacramento would not start play until the 2023 season because of the pandemic.
Sacramento’s announced ownership group included Burkle, founder of The Yucaipa Cos. and an owner of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, as lead investor. He was joined by entertainment executive Matt Alvarez and Kevin Nagle, an investor in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings who had spearheaded the bid for MLS expansion since 2014.
Burkle’s group had planned a $300 million soccer-specific stadium on a 14-acre site downtown and signed a deal with UC Davis Health to be its MLS jersey sponsor.
But the group had run into cost issues with the proposed stadium site and had yet to break ground on the proposed 21,000-seat stadium. There also was growing concern the team would not be able to start until 2024.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said he remains optimistic about finalizing plans for the league’s 30th team.
“After working for many years to bring an MLS team to Sacramento, the league continues to believe it can be a great MLS market,” MLS said in a statement.
“In the coming days, the league will work with Mayor Darrell Steinberg to evaluate possible next steps for MLS in Sacramento.”
Golf
NELLY KORDA LEADS LPGA
>> Nelly Korda surged into the lead in the Gainbridge LPGA with a 4-under 68 that left her in position to make it consecutive wins for the Korda family to start the season.
Korda, whose older sister Jessica won the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions last month to start the new LPGA Tour season, dropped only one shot on a breezy day at Lake Nona to lead by one over Patty Tavatanakit.
Annika Sorenstam, playing for the first time in more than 12 years after retiring, had no expectations and no excuses. She kept leaving herself in bad spots around the green and finished with a 79. That put her in last place by four shots, 22 shots behind Korda.
Korda was at 13-under 203, one shot ahead of Tavatanakit.
College football
S. ILLINOIS ENDS NORTH DA
KOTA STATE’S 39-GAME WINNING STREAK >> Javon Williams Jr. and Romeir Elliott each had a pair of touchdown runs, and Southern Illinois beat top-ranked North Dakota State 38-14 that ended the Bison’s 39game winning streak.
North Dakota State (2-1, 1-1 Missouri Valley), which has won three straight FCS championships, last lost on Nov. 4, 2017 to then-No. 8 South Dakota State. The Salukis (2-1, 1-1) snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Bison.
It was Southern Illinois’ first win against the Bison since a 24-14 home victory on Sept. 26, 2009.
Tennis
FRENCH OPEN WINNER SWIATEK BEATS BENCIC IN ADELAIDE FINAL >> French Open champion Iga Swiatek beat Belinda Bencic 6-2, 6-2 to win the Adelaide International at Memorial Drive.
The 19-year-old Polish player did not drop a set in five matches and lost just 22 games all week.
Swiatek seized momentum midway through the first set. Leading 3-2, she broke Bencic’s serve when the Swiss player doublefaulted three times.