{"id":155317,"date":"2025-08-18T08:57:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T08:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/155317\/"},"modified":"2025-08-18T08:57:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T08:57:19","slug":"sacramento-using-the-vegas-bound-athletics-as-an-audition-for-major-league-baseball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/155317\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento using the Vegas-bound Athletics as an audition for Major League Baseball"},"content":{"rendered":"

SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014 Community leaders rolled out the red carpet for Major League Baseball\u2019s Athletics, hoping the three-year stay would become permanent if the Las Vegas project came undone.<\/p>\n

However, with progress on the stadium evident in Las Vegas, Sacramento leaders turned their focus toward the potential expansion of Major League Baseball into new cities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They now believe the community, given the welcome residents extended to the A\u2019s, has moved to the front of a crowded line for a major league expansion team, jumping past Portland, Nashville and Salt Lake City.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s tourism, business and elected leaders said the community should jump past other markets given the success being seen just two-thirds through the inaugural season at the 14,000-capacity Sutter Health Park, a 20-year-old venue the A\u2019s are sharing with the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a major league city and having the A\u2019s puts us on the map,\u201d said Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty. He believes the city has done a good job welcoming the A\u2019s. He hopes Major League Baseball will recognize the effort, which he expects to increase over the next two seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Developments have cemented the likelihood the team will begin playing games on the Strip in 2028. Late last year, the A\u2019s finalized their plans with Clark County and the stadium oversight board and cleared up any financing concerns surrounding its 33,000-capacity ballpark on the Strip, although the project\u2019s cost has ballooned to more than $2 billion<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A concrete foundation is being poured for the stadium’s surface, which will support the steel structure. Mortenson | McCarthy, the contractor overseeing the project, released a timeline showing steel placement starting early next year.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Sacramento wants to get into the ballgame. It\u2019s the state\u2019s sixth-largest city with a population of almost 536,000, according to the U.S. Census. But the total metropolitan area is more than 2.3 million when accounting for seven neighboring counties.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to keep working on corporate sponsorship,\u201d said McCarty, who was elected last November after serving 10 years in the state legislature. \u201cIt’s always been something that [baseball] looks for from smaller market teams.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has said expansion will wait until two issues are cleared up \u2014 any hiccups involving the A\u2019s move to Las Vegas and finding a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.<\/p>\n

Those factors give Sacramento time to organize a game plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we want a permanent [Major League] baseball team here? Absolutely,\u201d said Mike Testa, CEO of Visit Sacramento. He said the area\u2019s hotel and restaurant development undertaken over the last few years has provided reasons for visitors to come to Sacramento, and it’s playing out thanks to the A\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Testa said Sacramento has also taken a page from the Las Vegas playbook by embracing professional sports as a way to grow beyond a tourism destination for the 15 million visitors the city attracted in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The $558 million, 17,600-seat Golden One Center opened in 2016, which helped keep the NBA\u2019s Sacramento Kings from leaving the market. Similar to Las Vegas\u2019 T-Mobile Arena, the venue has brought concerts and entertainment to downtown.<\/p>\n

\"\"Baseball fans at Sutter Health Park spread out on the grass berm along the first base line and behind right field to watch the Athletics and Seattle Mariners on July 28, 2025. (David Calvert\/The Nevada Independent)<\/p>\n

The Wilton Rancheria Tribe of Sacramento, which owns the Boyd Gaming-operated Sky River Casino, plans to build a 12,000-seat soccer stadium and entertainment district on a 31-acre site in the Downtown Railyards. Plans are in place to expand the venue to 20,000 seats if the Republic FC soccer team is moved up from the United Soccer League to Major League Soccer.<\/p>\n

Scott Ford, deputy director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a 20-year-old community redevelopment program that is now exploring ways to redevelop more than 100 city blocks \u2014 including industrial areas \u2014 said Major League Baseball \u201ccomplements the NBA season\u201d because it’s the first time Sacramento has had year-round major league sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s very unique and everyone is aware that this is most likely a temporary situation,\u201d Ford said, given the A\u2019s attention is on Las Vegas for 2028.<\/p>\n

A complete set of data \u2014 visitation numbers as well as gross revenue from sales taxes and other fees \u2014 will provide a clearer picture of what the A\u2019s have meant to the community and what needs to be done over the final two years of the agreement.<\/p>\n

Ford grew up in the Sacramento area, which he said had a larger A\u2019s fanbase than a Giants fanbase.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Testa expects Sacramento\u2019s hotel room occupancy numbers will increase significantly, given the travel by visiting team fans. An Embassy Suites Hotel is across the river from the ballpark. In early July, the lobby was crowded with Seattle Mariners fans during a three-game series with the A\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I put a number on that? No, not halfway into the season,\u201d Testa said. \u201cBut I think just in talking to some of the hotel general managers, they’re feeling it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He compared the business to what Las Vegas probably sees from visiting team fans on weekends when the Las Vegas Raiders have a home game. But then he laughed at the juxtaposition.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have about 16,000 hotel rooms in all of Sacramento. That\u2019s probably what Vegas has [at] one Strip intersection,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Former Major League Baseball player Steve Sax, center, during the Athletics’ television pregame show at Sutter Health Park on July 28, 2025. (David Calvert\/The Nevada Independent)<\/p>\n

\"\"Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty watches the Athletics and Seattle Mariners from his seat at Sutter Health Park on July 28, 2025. (David Calvert\/The Nevada Independent.)<\/p>\n

Attendance could be higher<\/strong><\/p>\n

Through 61 home games, the A\u2019s have averaged 9,594 fans at Sutter Health and have drawn crowds of more than 12,000 seven times \u2014 two three-game series with the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants and the season\u2019s first game with the Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n

One person who has a good idea of how the community fits into the baseball equation is five-time major league all-star Steve Sax, a native and current resident of West Sacramento. He joined the A\u2019s television broadcast team this year, co-hosting pregame and postgame shows from a booth above the third base foul line.<\/p>\n

Sax, a second baseman who won the National League Rookie of the Year award with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1982, spent 14 years in baseball with four teams, including part of the 1994 season with the then-Oakland Athletics. He said he believes that if the A\u2019s show success in attracting fans, as well as increasing community involvement efforts, it would give Sacramento an opportunity when expansion talks heat up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was hoping attendance [at home games] would be a bit higher, but the team has an opportunity over the next few years to get ingrained in the community,\u201d Sax said. \u201cI think as the community gets to know the players, interest will grow before they go to Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sutter Health is in the city of West Sacramento. The community is connected to downtown Sacramento by the Tower Bridge that crosses above the Sacramento River and Interstate 5. The bridge is a landmark behind right field and seems to glow at sunset.<\/p>\n

Aaron Laurel, the city manager for West Sacramento, said hosting the A\u2019s is serving as \u201csort of an audition for Major League Baseball. It’s been a great showcase of what’s possible here on our riverfront, not just with baseball but beyond. We have a lot of potential for infill development.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laurel said sales tax dollars from concessions and merchandise sales at the stadium have increased, given that the A\u2019s and the River Cats are playing more than 150 home games combined this summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew going in this was going to be a great opportunity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The River Cats were acquired by Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadiv\u00e9 in 2022, who announced<\/a> the three-year deal with A\u2019s owner John Fisher and local officials in April 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The A\u2019s funded extensive renovations and upgrades over five months <\/a>to bring the Sutter Health Park experience as close to major league status as possible, including the addition of a state-of-the-art, two-story clubhouse, which sits beyond the left-field wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The most popular feature for players, however, is the dining area on the second floor, which includes a kitchen and patio deck with views of the field. It serves as a lounging area for players before and after games.<\/p>\n

\u201cSacramento has been a great host. It\u2019s been a great environment,\u201d said A\u2019s General Manager David Forst. \u201cWe’re here for another two and a half years. I think we’ll enjoy the time here. But ultimately, everything the organization is doing is geared toward Las Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Baseball fans shop for Athletics’ merchandise featuring Sacramento’s Tower Bridge logo at Sutter Health Park on July 28, 2025. (David Calvert\/The Nevada Independent) <\/p>\n

\"\"A baseball cap featuring the Athletics’ logo on the side and Sacramento across the front is seen at Sutter Health Park on July 28, 2025. (David Calvert\/The Nevada Independent)<\/p>\n

Sacramento recognition<\/strong><\/p>\n

As soon as the A\u2019s departed Oakland, the team and Major League Baseball decided to shun references to Sacramento. The official designation in press releases, box scores and standings has been Athletics or A\u2019s along with the abbreviation, ATH. The San Francisco Chronicle sports section, however, rebelled. The publication refers to the team<\/a> as the Sacramento Athletics.<\/p>\n

The A\u2019s did want to provide some recognition to Sacramento, and the team added a jersey patch depicting the Tower Bridge.<\/p>\n

However, to combat a growing black market that began selling bootleg A\u2019s\/Sacramento gear, the team now sells baseball caps, T-shirts and sweatshirts that carry the name Sacramento along with the A\u2019s logo and the Tower Bridge at stadium merchandise outlets. The apparel includes the official Major League Baseball trademark.<\/p>\n

\u201cFans wanted to buy merchandise that recognized the city that the A\u2019s are playing in,\u201d said Andrew Davis, who was managing a large stand near the beer garden along the stadium\u2019s third base line. \u201cIt started with just a couple of items that said Sacramento, and they sold out quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Las Vegas looms in the background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Las Vegas has a presence at Sutter Health Park through the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and two gaming companies.<\/p>\n

The tourism agency is paying the A\u2019s $8.25 million over the next three years to place a \u201cLas Vegas\u201d patch that is being worn on the left sleeves of the team\u2019s jerseys. The deal also came with three Las Vegas signs that are prominently featured on Sutter Health\u2019s left field wall.<\/p>\n

Circa Sports, the sports betting operation of Circa Casino Resort Las Vegas, is paying for signage on the left field wall and the scoreboard, even though sports betting is not legal in California. A spokeswoman for Circa CEO Derek Stevens said the company wanted to \u201csupport the future home team of Las Vegas.\u201d She said Circa plans to be an A\u2019s sponsor when the team arrives.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Boyd-managed Sky River Casino sponsors an upper-deck club level section, has pregame messaging on an outfield scoreboard and sponsors the first and third base foul lines with on-field logos.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe probably have what I believe is the right footprint for us,\u201d said Sky River General Manager Michael Facenda. \u201cThe A\u2019s have been great for Sacramento, and I think a lot of people would love for the team to stay here. But I also know that [the team] is very excited about Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Baseball fans enter Sutter Health Park for game between the Athletics and Seattle Mariners on July 28, 2025. (David Calvert\/The Nevada Independent)<\/p>\n

\"\"Logos for Circa Sports and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on the left field wall at Sutter Health Park on July 29, 2025. (Howard Stutz\/The Nevada Independent) <\/p>\n

Catching souveniers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sitting on Sutter Health\u2019s grassy berm above right field on a pleasant Monday evening in late July, David Pearl briefly lost track of his daughter, Skylar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But he wasn\u2019t concerned, figuring the pre-teen girl was tracking down a baseball being tossed into the crowd by Athletics players during warm-ups ahead of a game with the Mariners.<\/p>\n

Sure enough, within a few minutes, Skylar came bounding back to show her father a major league baseball.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s caught about 20 balls this season,\u201d said Pearl, a resident of the Sacramento suburb of Rocklin who has made the 40-minute commute to Sutter Health Park more than a dozen times to watch the A\u2019s during the first of the team\u2019s three-year Sacramento residency.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve sat in the stands, but we prefer sitting out here.\u201d He had placed blankets and lawn chairs on the hill to enjoy the game underneath the shade of several large oak trees.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t find another setting like this anywhere,\u201d said Pearl, a lifelong fan of the Athletics who grew up watching games at the Oakland Coliseum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He jumped at the opportunity to buy single-game tickets when the A\u2019s announced last September the team would leave Oakland.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll root for the A\u2019s when they move to Las Vegas. I still root for the Raiders,\u201d Pearl said of the NFL team that relocated to the $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium west of the Strip in 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I\u2019ll get to Vegas for an A\u2019s game. Of course, I would love for the A\u2019s to stay [in Sacramento],\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014 Community leaders rolled out the red carpet for Major League Baseball\u2019s Athletics, hoping the three-year…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":155318,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[1266,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-155317","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-mlb","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115048942557814212","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}