Oakland A’s to Play Games in Sacramento While Waiting for Las Vegas Stadium to Be Built

The A's will be sharing the stadium with the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, for the 2025-2027 seasons, with a potential extension to 2028, allowing them flexibility in case of delays in Las Vegas stadium construction.

Sutter Health Park, located approximately 80 miles northeast of Oakland, offers a significant departure in size compared to Major League Baseball standards. With a seating capacity of 10,624, expandable to 14,014 including lawn seats and standing room, it will be the league's smallest venue. For context, Progressive Field in Cleveland seats 34,830, while the Oakland Coliseum tops the list at 56,782.

During their Sacramento tenure, the A's won't include a city as part of their team name.

Oakland presented a proposition to the A's for a temporary stay in their current stadium. The city proposed a five-year lease extension worth $97 million, with an early termination clause after three years. The proposal also required the A's to sell their 50% stake in the Coliseum for redevelopment.

Amid talks, Oakland floated unconventional terms, including selling the A's to a local owner, relinquishing team identity upon relocation, or securing an exclusive opportunity for Oakland in future MLB expansion. Eventually, the city appeared to step back from these demands.

The River Cats, owned by Vivek Ranadivé, who also owns the NBA's Sacramento Kings, view this arrangement as a chance to showcase Sacramento for potential MLB expansion. If the move to Las Vegas falters, Sacramento could emerge as a frontrunner for the A's new home.

Assuming all proceeds as planned, the A's will call a new stadium, planned for the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, home in 2028, replacing the Tropicana. The iconic hotel closed its doors on its 67th anniversary to pave the way for demolition.

Bally's and Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. struck a deal to allocate nine acres for the proposed $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat stadium. Discussions on further development of the surrounding land are slated to follow once the A's settle in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas has emerged as a hub for professional sports, welcoming the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, followed by the WNBA's Aces and the NFL's Raiders in subsequent years. The A's will soon join this vibrant sports landscape.

Conversely, Oakland faces the loss of its third major sports franchise in a decade, following the departures of the Raiders and the NBA's Golden State Warriors.