Sacramento Bee: World TeamTennis returning to Sacramento this summer

After a one-year absence, World TeamTennis is returning to Sacramento.

The Texas Wild franchise, based in Irving, has been purchased and will play the 2015 season at Sunrise Mall as the California Dream.

The Capitals played in the Sacramento area for 28 seasons (1986-2013) at the original Arco Arena, Gold River Racquet Club, Roseville Galleria and Sunrise Mall. They won six league championships, including four in a row (1997-2000).

The team was scheduled to relocate to Las Vegas as the Neon, but the league folded the team before the 2014 season when owner Deepal Wannakuwatte’s assets were frozen by a federal judge following his arrest on federal fraud charges.

The new ownership group includes Jeff Launius, a WTT owner since 2001; Bob Kaliski, president of the Harbor Point Tennis Cub in Mill Valley; and Dallas-based investment banker Michael Malone.

“For so many years, I hated bringing my team to Sacramento because I knew there would be so many fans there going crazy for their team,” Launius said in a statement. “I hope they feel the same way about the Dream and come out to support us. This market certainly has fans that know and love World TeamTennis and they deserve a team.”

The Dream will play seven home matches in July in a stadium constructed in the parking lot at Sunrise Mall.

The team will unveil the logo and ticket packages in the next few weeks, and the 2015 rosters will be finalized in the WTT draft on March 16 in Indian Wells.

The regular season begins July 12 and concludes Aug. 2 with the WTT Finals.

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