New 10,000-seat arena is coming to California but first, officials want to solve the traffic nightmare

Rancho Cordova is ready for the big leagues — but they just have to make sure fans can find a parking spot first.The California city is moving forward with plans for a massive new 10,000-seat arena that could become a sports and entertainment destination for the Sacramento region. But before fans can pack the stands, the city is putting extra money toward solving one major problem: how everyone will get in and out.The Rancho Cordova City Council unanimously approved an additional $40,000 for a traffic analysis of the future downtown arena project, bringing the total contract with engineering firm DKS Associates Inc.from $88,000 to $128,000.The extra funding comes as officials evaluate the “high level of complexity of the project review,” according to a request from DKS Associates included in city staff reports.The planned venue — located at the corner of Kilgore Road and Trade Center Drive — is expected to seat 10,000 people, with 7,500 fixed seats, and serve as the future home of two Sacramento-area Major Arena Soccer League teams.But the arena’s ambitions go far beyond soccer.Think less arena, more entertainment takeover.

The project could eventually grow into a one-stop destination with hotels, housing, restaurants, shops, a card room, a movie theater and a bowling alley — basically everything except a kitchen sink.Rancho Cordova, it seems, isn’t just building an arena — it’s trying to build a whole new hangout.Joshua Wood, a local developer and member of the project’s ownership group, said the arena is continuing to move forward, with the next major step being approval from the city’s Planning Commission.Wood recently told The Sacramento Bee that “lots of progress” was being made and said updates on a groundbreaking date would come soon.He previously said the privately funded project was expected to break ground this summer.The deal comes with a few perks, including potential future revenue sharing, waived development and building ...