Oakland Athletics Transition to Sutter Health Park: What to Know

The Oakland Athletics will begin a three-year residency at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento starting with the 2025 Major League Baseball season, following the conclusion of their lease at the Oakland Coliseum. The move serves as a temporary bridge while the franchise prepares for its planned relocation to a permanent stadium in Las Vegas, currently projected for 2028.

Why are the Athletics moving to West Sacramento?

The Athletics are moving to Sutter Health Park because their lease at the Oakland Coliseum expired at the end of the 2024 season. According to Major League Baseball, the team reached an agreement to share the venue with the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. This arrangement provides the team with a facility while their permanent ballpark in Las Vegas remains under construction.

What is the status of the Las Vegas stadium project?

The franchise is working toward a permanent move to a new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the proposed 33,000-seat ballpark is slated for construction on the current site of the Tropicana hotel-casino. While the team has finalized its relocation plans with MLB, the project is subject to ongoing design reviews and construction timelines, with a targeted opening date of 2028.

How does Sutter Health Park compare to MLB standards?

Sutter Health Park, which opened in 2000, is designed for Minor League Baseball and holds a capacity of approximately 14,000 spectators, including berm and standing-room areas. To accommodate an MLB team, the venue is undergoing significant infrastructure upgrades. The Sacramento Bee notes that these improvements include enhancements to the playing surface, lighting, locker rooms, and media facilities to meet the technical requirements of the major leagues. Despite these upgrades, the stadium remains one of the smallest venues to host a professional baseball team in the modern era.

Key Details of the Transition

• Duration: The agreement covers the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons, with an option for 2028 if the Las Vegas stadium is delayed.
• Shared Facility: The Athletics will play alongside the Sacramento River Cats, requiring careful scheduling to manage field usage.
• Branding: The team will be referred to as the “Athletics” or “A’s” during the Sacramento tenure, dropping the “Oakland” geographic designation.
• Ticketing: Information regarding 2026 All-Star balloting and season tickets is managed through the team’s official digital portals as the transition progresses.

What happens to the Athletics’ history?

The franchise’s history, including its nine World Series titles, remains with the organization throughout the move. While the team will no longer play in Oakland, the transition follows a precedent set by other franchises that have relocated due to stadium lease disputes or market changes. The move marks the end of a 57-year run in Oakland, which began when the team moved from Kansas City in 1968.