SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For a third consecutive year, Sacramento Republic FC has been honored by the readers of Sacramento News & Review, which once again voted Republic FC “Best Sports Team” in the publication’s Best of Sacramento Awards.

This year’s Best of Sacramento Awards celebrated Sacramento’s vibrant growth, noting that while the Indomitable City is full of new ideas and innovation, its heart and foundation continues to be with the people, places and things that made Sacramento, well, Sacramento.

In addition to Republic FC’s Best Team title, Sacramento News & Review also recognized members of the Republic FC family as editors’ pick winners.

The Tower Bridge Battalion was named “Best Battalion to Join,” with Sacramento News & Review noting that while Sacramento fans across the board are among the most passionate sports bases, the Tower Bridge Battalion’s loyalty and passion sets a new standard for sports fans.

“They show their loyalty by packing the team’s new home stadium at Bonney Field with face paint and clever chants accompanied by drums and megaphones; their love for the Republic knows no bounds” wrote the News & Review. “It’s so boundless, in fact, that the Battalion led a crowd of thousands through the streets of downtown to…showcase its dedication to Major League Soccer officials. No big deal.”

Meanwhile, local celebrity and Republic FC Director of Pitch Randy Brink was named “Best Sports Superfan.”

Brink’s loyalty to Sacramento sports teams is impressive, attending and volunteering at nearly every Republic FC, Sacramento Kings and Sacramento River Cats game. As Republic FC director of pitch, Brink escorts the players and referees to and from the pitch for warmups, kickoff, halftime and at the end of match. Additionally, Brink is the chief sound engineer/president of sound operations for the Sacramento Kings and the volunteer head of security and stadium operations assistant for the Sacramento River Cats.

In reality, Brink is not just the biggest sports superfan in Sacramento, he is Sacramento’s biggest fan. In addition to his volunteer roles with local sports teams, Brink is also honorary fire marshal in Old Sacramento, volunteer health and safety officer at Cal Expo, an ex-official member of the City Council, goodwill ambassador for the California State Fair, honorary fire marshal at Sacramento Fire and emergency response manager for West Sacramento Fire, just to name a few of his other roles throughout the city.

The Sept. 22, 2016, “Best of Sacramento” edition of the Sacramento News & Review is available for free at newsstands throughout the Sacramento region, and can also be read online.