The Oakland Athletics will play in Sacramento for at least a few years until their new stadium in Las Vegas is Complete.
Thursday, the A’s announced that they will play at Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park from 2025-2027, making this their last year in Oakland.
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The backstory: The A’s moved to Oakland in 1968 after 12 years in Kansas City and 53 years in Philadelphia, making the move to Sacramento a pit stop as they follow the Raiders to Las Vegas.
- City and Alameda County officials were reportedly in talks with the A’s on Tuesday to keep the team in the East Bay until the move to Nevada could be completed. But the team did not agree to a five year lease with an opt-out after three years in case the new stadium is ready.
- City officials reportedly wanted the A’s to pay a $97 million extension fee to continue playing in the Coliseum.
The big picture: Sutter Health Park currently hosts the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
- The minor league ballpark has a capacity of 14,014, meaning the A’s would play in the smallest stadium in Major League Baseball. Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, is currently the smallest stadium with a capacity of 25,025.
- However, sellout crowds will not all get seats at Sutter Health Park. The stadium only has 10,624 actual permanent seats, with the remaining capacity coming on the outfield grass.
What we’re watching: With the A’s finally moving out of Oakland, it remains to be seen if owner John Fisher will increase payroll to field a competitive team.
- Forbes reports that Fisher – who is the son of Gap founders Donald and Doris Fisher – has a net worth of $3.2 billion.
- According to USA Today, the A’s have a payroll of $60.5 million, which is $25 million less than the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have the second-lowest payroll. The New York Mets currently have the highest payroll at over $305 million.
What they’re saying: “We explored several locations for a temporary home, including the Oakland Coliseum,” Fisher said in a statement. “Even with the long-standing relationship and good intentions on all sides in the negotiations with Oakland, the conditions to achieve an agreement seemed out of reach. We understand the disappointment this news brings to our fans, as this season marks our final one in Oakland. Throughout this season, we will honor and celebrate our time in Oakland, and will share additional details soon.”
