Sacramento will temporarily gain a Major League Baseball team when the Oakland A’s head up the road next year.
Starting in the 2025 season, the Athletics will call West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park their new home, albeit for only three years, while their new stadium in Las Vegas is built. If the stadium construction takes longer than expected, the team may stay in Sacramento for an additional season, until 2028.
This is the team’s fourth move in its franchise history.
The move means that the minor league River Cats, the Giants’ AAA team, will share the stadium with the A’s, meaning tighter schedules and a large anticipated increase in fans.
The A’s have struggled to exceed 6,000 fans per game this season at the aging Oakland Coliseum, their current home stadium, a facility designed to seat upwards of 60,000 people. Sutter Health Park, which seats about 10,000 and will be expanded with more outfield seating, is expected to draw larger crowds, with the River Cats reporting their highest ever ticket sales following the announcement.
Rio students share the excitement about the team’s move.
“I feel great about the A’s moving here because it’s very local,” freshman baseball player Brayden Facino said. “I think it will bring a lot more excitement to our city due to it being an MLB team and their opponents, [and] a lot more revenue. This will be the new thing to do every weekend.”
Varsity baseball player Everett Filippo believes Sacramento’s time has come for a major league team.
“I think the move will be a great thing for baseball in Sacramento,” he said. “There will be great baseball to watch super close by and we will finally get an MLB team in town. I can’t wait to go to games and see what results from the team move.”
Rio teachers also said they were happy about the announcement.
“It’s a little bittersweet coming from the Bay Area,” math teacher Brandon Robinson said. “I grew up in [the] West Bay, going to a lot of games at the Coliseum. It’s nostalgic. Now that I am here in Sacramento, I love the idea of an MLB team playing here. I believe this will influence a lot of other professional sports to be played here in Sacramento. It’s exciting for the capital city to have this market.”
Lifelong As fans like Rio baseball player Kyler Benton will appreciate the team’s new location—“I only have to drive 10 miles to see my favorite team.”
Even if you aren’t an avid A’s fan, you might still come to a game at Sutter Health Park; some of the biggest names in professional baseball will travel to Sacramento over the next few years.
Evan Nguyen • Apr 13, 2024 at 1:49 PM
I’m looking forward to having the A’s playing in Sacramento and might go watch a few of their games. Their presence in Sacramento might also bring in additional revenue for the city.
Dean • Apr 12, 2024 at 9:20 AM
Will be fun to watch the A’s play in Sacramento for a few years.
Danyel Aaron • Apr 12, 2024 at 8:45 AM
The A’s are going to be very fun in Sacramento