Record Breaking Season On and Off the Pitch
Records are made to be broken. Both Republic FC players and the team behind the team in the front office did just that in 2016.
On the pitch, the team set numerous records including a new undefeated record at 11 consecutive matches. Their streak began on July 30 with a scoreless draw against Rio Grande Valley FC through the end of the regular season. Republic FC will look to continue its streak at the beginning of the 2017 season since the record only accounts for regular season matches.
In addition to their impressive undefeated streak, Republic FC recorded their fewest regular season losses in a season, losing just six matches compared to eight in 2015 and seven in 2014.
On the defensive front, Republic FC’s backline and goalkeepers set a new club record for least goals allowed in a season, with only 27 goals in 30 matches. Goalkeepers Dominik Jakubek and Evan Newton went for a combined 11 shutouts on the season, three more shutouts than the previous record of 9, recorded in 2014 and repeated in 2015.
Republic FC’s midfielders and strikers also shined with forward Cameron Iwasa scoring eleven goals to set a new club record for most goals in a season, and breaking the previous record set by Tommy Stewart in 2014 when Stewart scored 11. Iwasa’s record occurred over the course of a 30-match regular season, while Republic FC played a 28-match season in 2014. On top of his goals, Iwasa also set a club record for most shots with 57; a reminder that you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.
Midfielder Danny Barrera recorded the highest number of assists in a season with nine, breaking the record of eight set by Rodrigo Lopez in 2014;a record Lopez repeated in 2015. Barrera finished as the USL’s runner-up for most assists, just one assist behind Portland Timbers 2’s Villyan Bijev.
Iwasa and Barrera also broke the club record for USL match appearances, each appearing in all 30 of Republic FC’s USL regular season matches (an honorary award should have also been bestowed on the medical and training staff for keeping these two healthy). Both players were recognized by the league at the end of the season for their individual feats, with Barrera being named to the USL All League First Team and Iwasa earning a spot on the USL All League Second Team.
In the stands, the club set a new club season attendance record of 172,711 over 15 regular season matches, breaking last season’s attendance of 158,516 over 14 matches. Republic FC averaged 11,514 fans per regular season match in 2016, selling out all but one USL match (only the second time in club history that this occurred). The club also set a new single match attendance record for Bonney Field of 11,569 due to expanded seating in the VIP and field seating areas, breaking the record set in 2015 of 11,442.
Aside from attendance, Republic FC continued to set new records in other areas of the club’s operations, taking four awards at the USL Operations Summit meeting. Republic FC received awards for Total Sponsorship Sales, Top Sponsorship Revenue, Tickets Total Revenue and Season Ticket Sales and Revenue.
2016 also saw Republic FC win their second Emmy award, winning the Northern California Emmy for Best Community/Public Service Spot for the “Live.Work.Play.” The video, which highlights why Sacramento is a great place to live, work and play, aired live during halftime of the CW31 broadcast of Republic FC’s USL match against LA Galaxy II on Sept. 26, 2015. The video was filmed, edited and produced by Franklin Pictures and executive produced by Republic FC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Erika Bjork.
Record Breaking Season On and Off the Pitch
Records are made to be broken. Both Republic FC players and the team behind the team in the front office did just that in 2016.
On the pitch, the team set numerous records including a new undefeated record at 11 consecutive matches. Their streak began on July 30 with a scoreless draw against Rio Grande Valley FC through the end of the regular season. Republic FC will look to continue its streak at the beginning of the 2017 season since the record only accounts for regular season matches.
In addition to their impressive undefeated streak, Republic FC recorded their fewest regular season losses in a season, losing just six matches compared to eight in 2015 and seven in 2014.
On the defensive front, Republic FC’s backline and goalkeepers set a new club record for least goals allowed in a season, with only 27 goals in 30 matches. Goalkeepers Dominik Jakubek and Evan Newton went for a combined 11 shutouts on the season, three more shutouts than the previous record of 9, recorded in 2014 and repeated in 2015.
Republic FC’s midfielders and strikers also shined with forward Cameron Iwasa scoring eleven goals to set a new club record for most goals in a season, and breaking the previous record set by Tommy Stewart in 2014 when Stewart scored 11. Iwasa’s record occurred over the course of a 30-match regular season, while Republic FC played a 28-match season in 2014. On top of his goals, Iwasa also set a club record for most shots with 57; a reminder that you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.
Midfielder Danny Barrera recorded the highest number of assists in a season with nine, breaking the record of eight set by Rodrigo Lopez in 2014;a record Lopez repeated in 2015. Barrera finished as the USL’s runner-up for most assists, just one assist behind Portland Timbers 2’s Villyan Bijev.
Iwasa and Barrera also broke the club record for USL match appearances, each appearing in all 30 of Republic FC’s USL regular season matches (an honorary award should have also been bestowed on the medical and training staff for keeping these two healthy). Both players were recognized by the league at the end of the season for their individual feats, with Barrera being named to the USL All League First Team and Iwasa earning a spot on the USL All League Second Team.
In the stands, the club set a new club season attendance record of 172,711 over 15 regular season matches, breaking last season’s attendance of 158,516 over 14 matches. Republic FC averaged 11,514 fans per regular season match in 2016, selling out all but one USL match (only the second time in club history that this occurred). The club also set a new single match attendance record for Bonney Field of 11,569 due to expanded seating in the VIP and field seating areas, breaking the record set in 2015 of 11,442.
Aside from attendance, Republic FC continued to set new records in other areas of the club’s operations, taking four awards at the USL Operations Summit meeting. Republic FC received awards for Total Sponsorship Sales, Top Sponsorship Revenue, Tickets Total Revenue and Season Ticket Sales and Revenue.
2016 also saw Republic FC win their second Emmy award, winning the Northern California Emmy for Best Community/Public Service Spot for the “Live.Work.Play.” The video, which highlights why Sacramento is a great place to live, work and play, aired live during halftime of the CW31 broadcast of Republic FC’s USL match against LA Galaxy II on Sept. 26, 2015. The video was filmed, edited and produced by Franklin Pictures and executive produced by Republic FC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Erika Bjork.
Locally, Republic FC won the Best of Sacramento-Best Team Award from Sacramento News & Review. This is the third consecutive year Republic FC has won the award, with the club beating out regional Sacramento sports teams for the honor every year since the club’s inaugural season.
While 2016 was a great year of new milestones, the club will look to continue to raise the bar in 2017. Season tickets for the 2017 season are now on sale and Coach Buckle and the boys have already set their sites on another star above the club crest.
Locally, Republic FC won the Best of Sacramento-Best Team Award from Sacramento News & Review. This is the third consecutive year Republic FC has won the award, with the club beating out regional Sacramento sports teams for the honor every year since the club’s inaugural season.
While 2016 was a great year of new milestones, the club will look to continue to raise the bar in 2017. Season tickets for the 2017 season are now on sale and Coach Buckle and the boys have already set their sites on another star above the club crest.
