SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics will leave Oakland after this season and play temporarily at a Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for at least three seasons until their planned new stadium in Las Vegas is built.
Here are answers to some pressing questions:
What will the team be called?
The team will be simply known as the Athletics, or A’s, without a city designation during the stay 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," said team president Dave Kaval.
How long will they be playing at Sutter Health Field?
The A's will play for three years from 2025 to 2027 with an option for 2028 if their Las Vegas Ballpark isn't done in time.
Are the Sacramento River Cats leaving?
No, apparently they'll be sharing the ballpark.
“We’re prepared to accommodate the A’s and the River Cats to ensure a seamless transition for both teams and their fans,” said West Sacramento City Manager Aaron Laurel in a statement posted on Facebook.
"We're committed to providing A's players and fans with a world-class baseball experience at Sutter Health Park while also continuing the beloved tradition of Minor League Baseball and the Sacramento River Cats," said Vivek Ranadivé.
Few details on how it's going to work were released Thursday.
Why is the owner of the Sacramento Kings involved?
Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé also owns the minor league River Cats. Here's what he said today:
How big is Sutter Health Park?
The stadium has 10,624 fixed seats and can currently hold 14,014 fans with lawn seating and standing room.
The Oakland Coliseum can seat up to 63,000 people, according to the Coliseum Authority. The Athletics attendance per game in 2023 was 10,276, according to Baseball Reference, which lists the typical number of tickets sold per home game.
With a capacity of 14,014, Sutter Health Park should have ample seating for Oakland A's fans based on past attendance data if they choose to travel to West Sacramento. There should be room for Sacramento fans, too.
What upgrades are needed?
The stadium will likely need additional work to upgrade clubhouses, batting and other facilities in order to host a major league team.
PHOTOS: Sutter Health Park
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