A raucous audience of chanting Republic fans greeted Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber Monday as he officially announced that Sacramento Republic FC would be the nation’s next Major League Soccer franchise. Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Republic owners Ron Burkle, Matt Alvarez and Kevin Nagle joined him on the stage.

Sacramento Republic FC will begin MLS play in 2022 in a $300 million, privately-financed stadium being built in the downtown Railyard.

Below is a prepared text of the mayor’s remarks:

Mayor Darrell Steinberg, MLS Commissioner Don Garber (center), and Ron Burkle.

I want to start off my remarks today with several thank you’s for those who helped make this historic day a reality. Thank you to my friend Governor Newsom for being here today. Your leadership and presence demonstrate why this is big day not just for Sacramento but for the entire state of California.

Thank you to Commissioner Garber and Major League Soccer for choosing Sacramento. This marks the start of an amazing partnership that will last for decades to come. A huge thank you to Ron Burkle and to Matt Alvarez, our City is so fortunate to have you both. Thank you to my friends Kevin Nagle and Ben Gumpert for fighting so hard for Sacramento.

To Larry and Denton Kelley, to Warren Smith and to all of our committed local owners that we are so proud of. I also want to thank all of my Council colleagues for their leadership along this journey, including Councilmember Jeff Harris, who continues to represent the downtown Railyards so ably. Our City Manager Howard Chan, John Dangberg and our whole city staff team that put years into making this day happen, and most of all, thank you to a community and a fan base that never gave up and never stopped believing in our destiny.

Today’s historic day in the indomitable city of Sacramento puts a big punctuation mark on what we already know. Sacramento is no longer just becoming the next great American city. We are no longer just becoming. We are.

We are proud. We are tough… We are resilient. And we will never settle for anything less than what our proud history, our culture and our people know we deserve.

From left to right: Republic owners Kevin Nagle, Matt Alvarez and Ron Burkle; MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

When all the stories are told about this five-year journey, many truths will emerge. There were at least a half dozen times when it seemed evident that this day was just not going to happen. Many people counted us out. This was a complex, high stakes deal from the start, that tested the resilience, fortitude and indomitable spirit of everyone involved — especially the fans and our community.

I know it’s easy to say today that I never really had a lot of doubt. But truth is, any doubt was fleeting. For I know my city. I know that beneath the midwestern-like friendliness and chill exteriors, we are fiercely competitive. We go all in. We want more for our people. We insist on growth and equal opportunity together. We have big hearts and big ambitions.

We also know instinctively that if it isn’t hard, it’s probably not worth it. Today’s victory is sweeter because it was anything but easy.

The “wouldn’t-it-be-great if” era is over in Sacramento. Today, we are finally crossing the tipping point. We are a major league city in every way.

Major League Soccer defines and elevates this new era of Sacramento. A new era where we aren’t afraid to dream big. A new era where we repeat again and again bold, exciting advances for our people.

An era where we have the mentality and confidence that everything is possible. An era where we no longer wonder for decades what it will take to create iconic destinations for our Railyards and Waterfront.

Mayor Steinberg poses with Carmichael Dave on either side of the MLS cup

And an era where we confidently set a faster pace to accomplish many big things at the same time. From our second major league sports franchise, to the dizzying growth of our local Farm-to-Fork scene, to the expansion and renovation of the Convention Center and Community Center Theatre, to real investments in our youth and in our neighborhoods, to new Fortune 100 corporate headquarters, to new clean industries and high wage jobs and to a dynamic emerging creative economy. And so much more.

I want to end by speaking to the pride we feel about becoming a major league soccer city. For soccer is the world’s number one sport. It is a global unifier in a divided world. It embodies all that we value in our city. Inclusion, diversity, culture, commitment to youth, the love of competition and civic pride. MLS represents the world, having players come from 75 different countries. And we have a local fan base that is legendary and second to no one. Our community is soccer crazed, and we could not be more proud of it!

Thank you again to all the leaders standing with me today for believing that Sacramento deserves and has earned this day. I cannot say thank you enough to Commissioner Garber, the Board of Governors, Ron Burkle and to Matt Alvarez for stepping up big for our City. As well as Kevin and all of our local owners for sticking with it over the last few years.

We know our work together is just beginning. We can never rest for too long when there is more to achieve and more people who want and deserve their opportunity for a better life in our city.

But for at least one day, today, let us revel together in our great achievement, the beginning of decades of excitement and indelible memories and a result that shows what’s possible when passion, persistence and love for a city combine to create a magic moment. May there be many more such magic moments at the state-of-the-art major league soccer stadium in our downtown Railyards. May we wave championship banners. May we continue to say with big smiles when asked, so where do you live? I live in SACRAMENTO.

Este es un grand dia para Sacramento. Vamos los rojos. Glory glory Sacramento!