Rancho Cordova City Council to consider 7,500-seat arena, hotels, and housing at Kilgore Road.
Rancho Cordova could soon join the ranks of cities that use sports as the cornerstone for a new downtown identity.
This afternoon, the City Council will consider an Economic Development and Participation Agreement for Downtown Dova, a 28-acre sports-anchored entertainment district at Kilgore Road. The plan calls for a mid-size arena, hotels, housing, retail, and a public plaza.
The city owns roughly 13 acres at 2875 Kilgore Road, which it is preparing to contribute to the project. The balance of the 28-acre site consists of adjacent parcels that KozPure Development, LLC either owns outright or is under contract to acquire. Together with partner Alpha One Sports and Entertainment Group, the developers say they aim to transform the area into a regional destination under the Downtown Dova brand.
At the center of the proposal is a 7,500-seat indoor arena designed to host both a Major Arena Soccer League team and the Sacramento region’s first women’s professional soccer franchise. Market research cited by the staff report notes that Sacramento is the only major U.S. metro area in the top 25 without a venue in the 6,000–10,000 seat range, a gap the developers say Downtown Dova is well-positioned to fill.
Surrounding the arena, plans call for two or more hotels with at least 800 rooms combined, including one rated at four stars, alongside a movie theater, potential cardroom, and a retail and dining district covering nearly 145,000 square feet. At least 640 residential units are also part of the mix, bringing housing into the development to extend activity beyond game nights and concerts. A public plaza and roughly 3,660 parking stalls would serve as supporting infrastructure.
Developers have already drawn interest from well-known operators. The Ernesto Delgado Hospitality Group has expressed intent to open one of its restaurants within the district, while Midnite Events has pledged to bring its annual Give Thanks Festival, which draws more than 10,000 attendees per day, to the new venue. The entertainment promoter has also outlined plans for about 40 concerts each year at the site.
The agreement before the council envisions a sports-anchored entertainment district, a model that has gained traction nationally as a way to spur urban revitalization by clustering hotels, nightlife, retail, and housing around an arena. The staff report describes Downtown Dova as an opportunity to establish a city center with a mix of uses that sustain activity throughout the day and week, rather than relying on retail alone.
If approved, Downtown Dova would be one of the most ambitious public-private ventures in Rancho Cordova’s history. According to the staff report, the district could generate thousands of construction jobs during buildout and hundreds of permanent positions once complete, spanning hospitality, food service, retail, and arena operations. The report also points to long-term gains in the city’s tax base through hotel occupancy taxes, property taxes, and event-driven sales revenue.
