Construction of the planned new Sacramento Republic FC stadium, designed by HNTB, has moved a step closer with the approval by the city council of a $27m (€24m, £21m) loan to pay for infrastructure work around the site.

The $300m (€271m, £232m), 20,000-capacity stadium will be located on a 31ac (13ha) site in the Railyards area of the city, which is being redeveloped as a 244ac (99ha) mixed-use urban community.

In addition to MLS matches for Sacramento Republic FC, the stadium will host men’s and women’s national team games, friendlies, concerts, festivals and other sporting, family and civic events.

Initial designs were released in 2015 and were updated a year later. Additional updates earlier this year saw the addition of a 360-degree concourse pedestrian walkway, new canopy-level seating and expanded field-level seating options.

Sacramento Republic FC's MLS place was confirmed from 2022 at the end of October. Construction of the stadium is due to begin in mid-2020.