{"id":828324,"date":"2026-05-28T18:29:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T18:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/828324\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T18:29:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T18:29:27","slug":"sacramento-area-leaders-launch-effort-for-mlb-expansion-team-plan-new-stadium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/828324\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento-area leaders launch effort for MLB expansion team, plan new stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sacramento-area leaders launch effort for MLB expansion team; $1.8B in funding secured for 50-acre stadium site<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"KCRA<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tUpdated: 11:26 AM PDT May 28, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSacramento-area leaders on Thursday formally announced plans to pursue a Major League Baseball expansion team, saying that $1.8 billion in funding has been secured as part of \u201cThe Sacramento Pitch.\u201dThe campaign aims to construct a new ballpark on a 50-acre site in West Sacramento in the Bridge District. The mixed-use development would also offer retail, housing and restaurants. A rendering of the possible new ballpark was released during Thursday\u2019s press conference. “We are ready to compete for a permanent MLB team,\u201d West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero said. \u201cWhat excites me most about this vision is what it could mean for the future of our city. For years, we had envisioned the Bridge District as a vibrant, waterfront destination where people can live, work and gather. And that it has become.”(Video below: West Sacramento mayor: ‘We are ready to compete for a permanent MLB team’)The project plans for $800 million in land and private investment and $1 billion from the city of West Sacramento through tax increment financing, existing hotel taxes and additional sources, according to a press release.Mark Friedman, founder and chairman of Fulcrum Property and Board Chair of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, said that the private funding will come from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the United Auburn Indian community. (Video below: Sacramento’s pitch for MLB expansion | ‘We have the money’)Leaders said that the Sacramento region was underserved as a major league sports market with only one permanent Big 5 professional team. The region of nearly 2.7 million people has grown about 10% over the past decade, outpacing the state and nation. (Video below: Sacramento’s pitch for MLB | ‘We’re going to set the tone’)A new organization called The Sacramento Pitch will lead the efforts to secure an expansion team. Those on the steering committee include: Chair, Mark Friedman, Founder and Chairman, Fulcrum Property GroupHonorary Co-Chair, Martha Guerrero, Mayor of West SacramentoHonorary Co-Chair, Kevin McCarty, Mayor of SacramentoDusty Baker, Sacramento native and World Series Champion player and managerBarry Broome, President & CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic CouncilRegina Cuellar, Chairwoman, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok IndiansDerrek Lee, Sacramento native and former Major League Baseball playerWest Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem, District 4 Verna Sulpizio HullMatina Kolokotronis, COO, Sacramento KingsKevin McClatchy, Chairman of McClatchy and former owner of the Pittsburgh PiratesMike Testa, President & CEO, Visit SacramentoJohn Williams, Chairman, United Auburn Indian CommunitySacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said the expansion effort \u201cwon\u2019t be easy\u201d and likened what\u2019s ahead to being a \u201cmarathon, not a sprint.\u201d \u201cOne thing is certain,\u201d he said. \u201cSacramento is MLB-ready.\u201d(Video below: ‘This is a Major League city’ | Derrek Lee’s words on MLB expansion bid for Sacramento.)Fan weigh region’s chances before the historic announcement Some fans said ahead of the announcement they were optimistic Sacramento could support a franchise.\u201cI\u2019m really excited to hear that, and I hope it\u2019s successful,\u201d Janet Kurtz-Puga said.At a midweek A\u2019s game, some pointed to the crowd as evidence of local support.\u201cTake a look around. It\u2019s Wednesday afternoon, and it\u2019s packed. It\u2019s not even a weekend, so it kind of looks like it to me,\u201d Rob Sims said.Others said the region\u2019s growth could help make a team viable.\u201cRight now it\u2019s just a growing region,\u201d Brian Kurtz said. \u201cAnd if we can support it, the biggest ticket we need, you know, more businesses to come. And I think that really makes it work.\u201dFans also said a Sacramento team would need to offer a strong on-field product.\u201cIf you get someone fun on the field, I\u2019m not a huge baseball person, but I\u2019m here,\u201d Joshua Sims said.Chris Rolling said Sacramento appears positioned for bigger things, but added a major league setup would require more than the current ballpark can offer.\u201cI think there\u2019s a lot of big things up there in Sacramento,\u201d Rolling said. \u201cI think they\u2019d have to make it a little bigger than this. But yeah, I think that\u2019d be cool.\u201dNot everyone was convinced the region is ready.\u201cI\u2019m sorry. No, no, I\u2019m really not, because I\u2019m really kind of disappointed at the turnout of the games that I\u2019ve gone to,\u201d Patrick Shepherd said. \u201cI think we kind of blew it.\u201dAs fans waited for the formal announcement, many already had ideas about what they want from a future team and stadium.\u201cShade for sure,\u201d Kurtz-Puga said, noting the challenge of sitting through day games in the heat.Michael Fleming said he would like to see \u201can organist someday\u201d playing during games, while Sims said the team must \u201cbe competitive and just come out and be competitive. People will show up.\u201dRolling said affordability should also be part of the conversation.\u201cMore affordable prices so fans can enjoy it,\u201d he said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Sacramento-area leaders on Thursday formally announced plans to pursue a Major League Baseball expansion team, saying that $1.8 billion in funding has been secured as part of \u201cThe Sacramento Pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n

The campaign aims to construct a new ballpark on a 50-acre site in West Sacramento in the Bridge District. The mixed-use development would also offer retail, housing and restaurants. <\/p>\n

A rendering of the possible new ballpark was released during Thursday\u2019s press conference. <\/p>\n

“We are ready to compete for a permanent MLB team,\u201d West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero said. \u201cWhat excites me most about this vision is what it could mean for the future of our city. For years, we had envisioned the Bridge District as a vibrant, waterfront destination where people can live, work and gather. And that it has become.”<\/p>\n

(Video below: West Sacramento mayor: ‘We are ready to compete for a permanent MLB team’)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The project plans for $800 million in land and private investment and $1 billion from the city of West Sacramento through tax increment financing, existing hotel taxes and additional sources, according to a press release.<\/p>\n

Mark Friedman, founder and chairman of Fulcrum Property and Board Chair of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, said that the private funding will come from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the United Auburn Indian community. <\/p>\n

(Video below: Sacramento’s pitch for MLB expansion | ‘We have the money’)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leaders said that the Sacramento region was underserved as a major league sports market with only one permanent Big 5 professional team. The region of nearly 2.7 million people has grown about 10% over the past decade, outpacing the state and nation. <\/p>\n

(Video below: Sacramento’s pitch for MLB | ‘We’re going to set the tone’)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A new organization called The Sacramento Pitch will lead the efforts to secure an expansion team. Those on the steering committee include: <\/p>\n