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USL Sacramento Republic FC

In Case You Missed It: Republic FC to Resume 16-Game Season with New Regional Group Play

June 25, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


Sacramento, Calif. - On Wednesday, USL Championship announced a new format for the 2020 season - a 16 game season, with regional group play to limit travel across the 35 league team, and a single-elimination playoff. The regular season games will be played over 13 weeks, concluding on the weekend of October 2-4.

This morning, the league announced that Republic FC will join Group A with Reno, Tacoma, and (updated) Portland. The Indomitable Club will match up against each opponent four times, with additional opponents to be named later. The match schedule will be shared at a later date.

On Monday, USL announced the end of its training moratorium. With expert insight from team health officials with UC Davis Health and guidance from the club's taskforce, Republic FC has moved to the third phase of its return to play plan, resuming team training in alignment with USL health and safety protocols.

In preparation for the season restart, fans are encouraged to submit a photo at SacRepublicFC.com to be added to the team's Indomitable Together Tifo, to be lifted at upcoming home games.

Return to Play: USL Championship Unveils 2020 Season Format, Regional Groups A 16-game regular season awaits the Indomitable Club upon the restart of the USL Championship regular season.

On Wednesday, the USL Championship announced the competitive structure for the remainder of the 2020 season that has been tweaked down to a 16-game regular season and clubs are divided into eight groups followed by a single-elimination playoff. The regular season games will be played over 13 weeks, concluding on the weekend of October 2-4.

Republic FC has 15-of-the-16 regular season fixtures remaining this season, having already drawn 1-1 against FC Tulsa during the Indomitable Club's home opener on March 7. Eight new regionalized groups -- five groups made up of four teams, and three groups made up of five teams to cover the 35 member clubs of the Championship -- will be formed to limit travel through the league.

Portland, Tacoma, and Reno will join Republic FC in Group A. Teams will be initially scheduled to play a balanced schedule of eight games home and away in the regular season. If necessary, the Board of Governors has also approved the ability for clubs to play an unbalanced amount of home and away matches, for example, if a club is experiencing difficulties with venue availability due to the impact of COVID-19 in their community. The complete schedule will be shared at a later date.

In addition to the season format update, the league also released its health and safety protocols that will govern clubs' return to play, and ensure the health and wellness of all those connected to the game. Republic FC will continue to work directly with public health officials and local leaders to implement protocols that will support community health safeguards. In alignment with the league's announcement to lift its training moratorium, Republic FC has moved to the third phase of its return to play plan, created with the guidance of expert insight from team health officials with UC Davis Health, and guidance from the club's taskforce.

Yesterday's announcements and today's return to full team training, with enhanced health protocols, prepare Republic FC to bring live professional sports back to Sacramento.

"Despite the extended hiatus, our team has never stopped working," said Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant. "The players and staff have shown an incredible work ethic and exemplified the indomitable spirit that this club embodies for all of Sacramento. We can't wait to bring that to the field for everyone to see."

As part of its return to play plan, the club will continue to work with health experts and officials to explore options potential opportunities for hosting small groups of fans for home matches in a safe environment. When more information becomes available, the club will contact its season ticket members.

With a new season format, this year's playoffs will have a different look as well. The top two teams from each group in the regular season will advance to the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs, producing a field of 16 teams overall in a regionalized single-elimination bracket. Group winners will be paired with Group runners-up in the Round of 16, with home advantage being determined by record for the remainder of the bracket.

For more information about today's announcement and specific details relating to season structure, select team updates on balance of schedule, and playoff structure, visit the USL Championship page.

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