By Cynthia Hubert

September 09, 2025

Sacramento State and Cal Expo have entered into a formal agreement allowing the two agencies to explore building a new football stadium at the fairgrounds.

Cal Expo’s board of directors in late August voted unanimously to move forward with talks on the project, to be constructed on land previously used for horse racing.

The proposed football field and expanded grandstands, less than three miles from Sac State’s campus, would replace the aging Hornet Stadium as the University works to raise its national profile in athletics.

“There is no reason why we can’t have big-time college football here in Sacramento,” Athletics Director Mark Orr said at the meeting. “We have aspirations to compete at the highest level, and we need a facility to deliver that.”

President Luke Wood set a goal of opening the new stadium, with up to 25,000 seats, in time for the Fall 2026 football season. He said the project would be financed largely through revenue bonds.

Cal Expo’s chief executive officer, Tom Martinez, said the project would be a winner for both state agencies and the community at large.

“As two state agencies, we’re excited about the potential to create something truly impactful, not just for Sacramento but for the entire region,” Wood and Martinez wrote in a joint statement.