Stage and Premium Seating highlight changes at Bonney Field

Fans in Sacramento have already seen a marked difference in stadium experience over the two-year history of Sacramento Republic FC. From the club's home debut in front of 20,000 people at Hughes Stadium to the intimate and exciting 8,000-seat atmosphere of Bonney Field 1.0, the first year saw the most drastic change.

After the 2014 season, the club installed almost 3,500 new seats and upgraded the press box. Now, according to team VP of Marketing and Communications Erika Bjork in an interview with the Sacramento Business Journal, an increased number of premium seats will be available, though only on the north and east sides of the pitch. This will raise capacity slightly to around 11,500. Seating at Bonney Field could go as high as 14,000 in the lead-up to potential MLS expansion.

Probably most intriguing to Cal Expo organizers is the the inclusion of a stage at the south end of the stadium, among current club seating. Concerts have long been a lucrative revenue stream for stadiums of all sizes in North America, and soccer specific stadiums in particular.

What do you think of Bonney Field and its future? Leave a comment below, and if you’re going to the match tonight, send us your photos of the stadium on Twitter and Facebook!