r/RanchoCordova

The Rancho Cordova Independent just published a useful article on DOVA and the city's financial role “DOVA advances as city explains financial role”

I thought the article was reasonably balanced overall. It explains that the much-discussed $185 million figure isn't an upfront check to the developer, and it also acknowledges that projected future revenue isn't guaranteed reimbursement. Those are important distinctions.

But what caught my attention was developer Joshua Wood's response to the article, which was posted on The Grapevine's Facebook page.

Wood wrote that “hundreds showed up in favor” of the project and thanked the Chamber, labor groups, community and church leaders, youth sports coaches and athletes, neighborhood leaders, and residents who “fought for our community to have a downtown.”

I don't doubt that DOVA has significant organized support. The 7-0 Planning Commission vote is also a fact.

But I think there is an important distinction getting blurred here:

Supporting the idea of Rancho Cordova having a downtown is not necessarily the same thing as supporting the specific DOVA development agreement.

Someone can absolutely believe Rancho Cordova needs a central gathering place, restaurants, entertainment, sports, hotels and more, while still asking whether this particular deal is the best way to get there.

The developer's response also doesn't really address the financial questions raised by the article. It doesn't explain the assumptions behind the projected future revenue, what the city's protections are if projections aren't met, or what happens if portions of the larger development are delayed, deferred or don't get built.

Those questions matter because the vision being promoted is much larger than the immediate project.

The DOVA concept is being presented as a future downtown with an arena, restaurants, hotels, housing, entertainment and other development. That's an attractive vision. But the Council isn't voting simply on whether Rancho Cordova should have a downtown. It's voting on a specific set of agreements, financial commitments and developer obligations.

So I don't think the useful question is:

“Are you for or against DOVA?”

I'd frame it this way:

Can we support the goal of creating a downtown while still demanding that the City Council scrutinize the actual financial and contractual terms of the DOVA deal?

I think residents can reasonably answer yes to both.

I was in Grass Valley yesterday and this is what Mill Street looks like: https://atlaslab.com/work/mill-street-pedestrian-plaza/

It’s got dozens of vibrant shops and restaurants, and it’s completely, permanently closed to car traffic. There were literally children playing in the street as we dined al fresco.

I turned to my partner and said, “This is what we need in Rancho. Not a stadium.”

If Grass Valley can do it, we can too. There's no reason we can't have this.

Y'all know that stadiums are a scam, right? Do a little research and look at what's happened in literally every city that's used public money or creative accounting, excuse me, "incentives" to build a stadium. Big city, small city, NFL team or not, it doesn't matter, it always turns out the same: they privatize the profits and socialize the losses. Please, let's not allow the city to spend our money so foolishly and get taken in by the most obvious scam in the book.

For everyone asking about Joshua Wood and what's been happening with DOVA (downtown arena project)…

I did some digging into his history with Sacramento's Golden 1 Center arena battle, and WOW, there's some interesting local history from 2013 and beyond.....

Robocalls, petition battles, development fees, political tactics… all documented in old news articles.

I've gathered the original reporting, Wood's own interviews, and my experience at the September 30 meeting in one place for y'all....

📰 Read it, check the sources, and draw your own conclusions: https://ranchosauce.wordpress.com/2026/10/08/before-dova-there-was-doco-joshua-woods-arena-battle-schtick-from-2013-to-now/

Hey everyone, looks like we’re finally getting a formal town hall to talk about the proposed Downtown DOVA Project!

The city is hosting an informational meeting where staff and the project team will be presenting what’s actually being planned and taking questions from residents. Given how massive this development could be for Rancho Cordova (7,500-seat arena, hotels, housing, retail district), this feels like the right time to show up and hear the details directly.

Here are the event details:

• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026
• Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
• Location: Rancho Cordova City Hall (2729 Prospect Park Drive)

If you’re planning on going, definitely get there early. These high-profile meetings tend to fill up fast, and we want to make sure actual local residents get seats in the main room rather than packed-out overflow spaces.

If you’ve been following the project or have questions about traffic, timeline, funding, or local impact, try to make it out.

More info on the city's project page: https://www.cityofranchocordova.org/residents/new-businesses-and-projects/downtown-dova

Who else is planning on going? What are the main questions or concerns you're hoping they address?