WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As the Oakland Athletics plan to leave Oakland, fans are wondering if the team will change its name either temporarily or permanently ahead of the move to Las Vegas.
When the San Francisco 49ers moved to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, the NFL team kept its namesake of the city by the bay.
With Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento only being a temporary home for the A's, fans are wondering if Oakland will stay part of the name.
Athletics team president Dave Kaval shared a glimpse into what it would look like to have the A's in Sacramento.
"Well, we're going to play as the Athletics. I think because we're kind of in an interim period we felt that that was the best way to position the club. There are going to be ways, especially with our uniforms that we will honor Sacramento and I think we look forward to displaying those and getting that out in the community. We'll work with all the key local stakeholders to ensure that's done in a really fun way," Kaval said.
The Athletics will be playing in West Sacramento for the next three MLB seasons starting in 2025 as the lease at the Oakland Coliseum expires after the 2024 season. There's also an option for a fourth season.
West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park is also the home of the River Cats, the Giants' Triple-A affiliate owned by Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé. The Sacramento River Cats were the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics from 2000 to 2014 and became an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants in 2015, according to the River Cats website.
The A's plan to move to a stadium to be built on the Las Vegas Strip with $380 million in public financing approved by the Nevada government. However, the team needs a temporary home as the new ballpark isn't expected to open until 2027 at the earliest.
A's Owner and Managing Partner John Fisher said at a press conference Thursday the A's plan to move into its Las Vegas stadium in 2028.
Watch more on ABC10 | A's In Sacramento: Vivek Ranadivé on the move | Raw