On May 20, 2020, Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced the Sacramento Railyards project is moving forward as planned despite the economic impact of the coronavirus.

"There's going to be some fits and starts, no question about it," Mayor Steinberg told FOX40. "But in terms of the revitalization of the urban core, we're going forward."

Mayor Steinberg is optimistic that by the time the Sacramento Republic FC stadium opens for the MLS season in 2022, the coronavirus recession will be far behind us.

"Hopefully, by the time we open up Major League Soccer and play that first game, it'll be a packed stadium. That we'll have a vaccine and it'll be a different situation and a different world," Steinberg said.

Sacramento Railyards Projects

The Railyards had a number of projects underway when COVID-19 hit. A mixed-use residential housing project featuring studio, one- and two-bedroom units, and ground-floor retail space; The Foundry, two six-story office and retail buildings; and a state-of-the-art Kaiser Permanente medical center in the works.

And, of course, there's the much-anticipated MLS stadium.

Many expect the MLS stadium to do for The Railyards what the Golden1 Center did for the rebranded Downtown Commons (DOCO) area, which was revitalized by the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, a renovated Century movie theater, and numerous restaurants and retail.

Economic Revitalization After Coronavirus

The 244-acre infill development will essentially double the size of Downtown Sacramento. With its mix of commercial, residential, and cultural amenities, The Railyards will add more housing, business opportunities, and entertainment destinations to the area.

And that's going to be even more important in the post-COVID economy.

Sacramento, and many other counties in California, have already begun the process of re-opening businesses and getting "back to normal." Sacramento and surrounding counties earned a variance to Governor Newsom's orders, allowing many businesses and restaurants to begin re-opening, albeit with reduced occupancy and other precautionary measures.

While it may take a while for the economy to get back into its pre-COVID swing, The Railyards will not be a casualty of the coronavirus.