The Oakland Athletics have announced their decision to leave Oakland after this season and temporarily play at a minor league park near Sacramento. The team will play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-2027 with an option for 2028, as they await the construction of their planned new stadium in Las Vegas. Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé expressed his excitement about the move, stating that the region has the potential to become a “mecca for sports” with a passionate fan base.
The announcement was made at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, where the A’s will play for the next three seasons. The stadium is located in an area with new restaurants, bars, and apartment complexes, about a mile from the state Capitol and the NBA arena where the Sacramento Kings play. Ranadivé hopes that this move will pave the way for the Sacramento region to eventually host a permanent MLB team, while A’s owner John Fisher explained that West Sacramento was among several locations considered for the team’s temporary home.
While the decision to leave Oakland may disappoint many fans, Fisher stated that despite the long-standing relationship with Oakland, reaching an agreement seemed out of reach. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao mentioned that the city offered a fair deal to the A’s, but now plans to focus on acquiring the team’s rights to the Coliseum site and redevelopment efforts in the area. Fans in Oakland expressed their sadness over the move, but are proud that they can continue to support the newly-formed minor league team.
The move to Sacramento is seen as an opportunity to put the city on the map and attract new business for local bars and restaurants. West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero expressed excitement for the historic day, as it fulfills the dream of having a major league team in the city. The stadium will require upgrades to host a major league team, and the MLB Players Association has had preliminary discussions with MLB about the temporary relocation. The team will be known simply as the Athletics, or A’s, without a city designation during their time in Sacramento.
By staying in Northern California, the A’s hope to retain a large share of their local television rights and maintain a connection to their fan base. With the A’s leaving Oakland, the Coliseum complex will no longer be home to any major sports teams, ending a legacy that included championships from the A’s, Warriors, and Raiders. However, the move to Sacramento is welcomed by baseball fans in the area, as it brings the opportunity to host a major league team and potentially increase business for the community.
