Sacramento State is building a new football stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000 in a bid to bolster the school’s position for a possible FBS invitation. The Hornets currently play at Hornet Stadium, which was built in 1969 with a capacity of 6,000 and later renovated to fit over 21,000 spectators. The new stadium will be used for football, soccer, and rugby with the hope to host additional sporting events. The future stadium will be designed by Populous and built on the site of the current Hornet Stadium.
Sacramento State has been a member of the FCS since 1993 when it was known as I-AA. The Hornets spent the first three seasons in the now-defunct American West Conference and joined their current home in the Big Sky Conference in 1996. The Hornets have won or shared the Big Sky title in 2019, 2021, and 2022 with four FCS playoff appearances since 2019.
Sacramento State has been heavily linked to an FBS move, specifically the Pac-12, and the recent realignment news only increases the school’s prospects. As of this posting, both the Mountain West and Pac-12 are sitting at 7 football members beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The Pac-12 needs one more full-time member while the Mountain West needs 2 additional full-time members (due to Hawaii’s football-only membership) to satisfy the FBS minimum requirement of 8 conference members. Sacramento State’s location and television market make them an ideal realignment target and the recent support from alumni along with the new stadium will help their cause.
Should Sacramento State move to the FBS, the school would have to pay a $5 million entry fee, provide 210 scholarships worth $6 million annually, and sponsor a minimum of 16 sports (the Hornets currently sponsor 19 different sports). While the NCAA removed the 15,000 attendance requirement for FBS programs, a newer, higher-capacity stadium means potentially higher revenue for the school.
Photo Credit to Sacramento State Athletics
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