Urijah Faber Leads Group of Sacramento-Based Investors Bidding for MLS Franchise

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Urijah Faber is spearheading a group of wealthy Sacramento investors looking to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to the California capital.

The team, tentatively titled Sacramento Republic FC, announced a new lineup of investors Monday. Faber is the name with the most celebrity clout, surrounded by other prominent business people who also double as co-owners of the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise.

According to a report from the Sacramento Bee, the expansion team could cost an additional $200 million, including $80 million for the expansion fee and $120 million to build a stadium that meets MLS standards.

“I’m excited to be a small part of this group of heavy hitters,” Faber told Sherdog.com. “The sport of soccer is finally catching up in the U.S. I think it will be huge for Sacramento to have another professional team to get behind. Sacramento is a soccer town, and I really wanted to be a part of it.”

MLS is set rule on whether it will expand its league to 24 teams in a meeting in December. It is widely believed that Sacramento and Minneapolis are the leading contenders.

Faber has rattled off five wins in his last six UFC appearances and remains a difficult out for virtually anyone at bantamweight. “The California Kid” was booked for a Sept. 20 clash with Masanori Kanehara in Japan but was forced to withdraw with an injury.