The Oakland Athletics have announced that they will be leaving Oakland after this season and moving to a minor league park near Sacramento. Their planned new stadium in Las Vegas is not yet built, so they will be playing temporarily at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028. The decision to leave Oakland was made after the team was unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland. Despite exploring multiple locations for a temporary home, including the Oakland Coliseum, the A’s ultimately settled on playing in Sacramento.
The A’s announced their intention to move to Las Vegas last April, which was approved by MLB owners in November. This decision angered fans in Oakland and led to a significant drop in attendance, with the team drawing a league-low 832,352 fans to the outdated Coliseum last season. The team has faced backlash from fans, with protests against owner John Fisher outside the stadium. The A’s drew just 13,522 fans on opening night this year and failed to reach 7,000 fans in any of the following six games. The team will now play their next three seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, which has a seating capacity of 10,624 fixed seats and can hold 14,014 fans with lawn seating and standing room.
The move to Sacramento was met with enthusiasm from Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, who also owns the minor league River Cats. Ranadivé welcomed the A’s to Sutter Health Park, emphasizing the opportunity to create unforgettable memories for players and fans alike. The River Cats will continue to play in their stadium for the next three years and will share it with the A’s. Commissioner Rob Manfred thanked the Kings and Sacramento area leaders for their efforts in getting the agreement done. By staying in Northern California, the A’s hope to retain a large share of their local television rights, which are held by NBC Sports California and worth a reported $67 million a year.
As the A’s prepare to leave Oakland and transition to temporary home in Sacramento, they plan to honor and celebrate their time in Oakland throughout the current season. Owner John Fisher expressed understanding for the disappointment the news brings to fans, but emphasized the team’s commitment to making the most of their time in Oakland before the move. Additional details about the team’s plans for the remainder of the season are expected to be shared soon. The A’s are looking to make the most of their new temporary home in Sacramento, where they will strive to create a world-class baseball experience for players and fans while also showcasing one of the most dynamic and vibrant sports markets in the country.
