Rancho Cordova Mayor Announces Downtown Dova Arena Groundbreaking

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Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood announced that the city's long-awaited Downtown Dova arena project is likely to break ground this summer. The 7,500-seat venue will anchor a new mixed-use entertainment district featuring hotels, residential units, retail, and dining.

Why it matters

The Downtown Dova project is expected to serve as a major economic engine for Rancho Cordova, generating billions in economic output and creating new jobs over the next decade. The arena and surrounding development aim to revitalize the city's downtown and provide new entertainment options for residents and visitors.

The details

The $175 million Downtown Dova arena and entertainment district will be built on a city-owned parcel at the corner of Kilgore Road and Trade Center Drive. The project includes a central plaza, two or more hotels with at least 800 rooms, 640 residential units, a card room, movie theater, bowling alley, and 140,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The city has approved an economic development agreement that allows the developers to share in certain future site revenues.

• The City Council approved the project's Economic Development and Participation Agreement in September 2025.
• Design and environmental reviews are scheduled for the coming weeks.
• Mayor Gatewood says the project is "likely to break ground this summer", pending final approvals.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Design and environmental reviews are scheduled for the coming weeks, and both city officials and the developer say planning commission approvals are a key hurdle before construction can begin.