‘Play Ball’: Inside the first A’s game in Sacramento

It was fitting that the first Major League Baseball game in Sacramento at Sutter Health Park mirrored similar conditions to the day the Athletics’ temporary move to California’s capital city was announced.

Last April, the A’s and Sacramento Kings announced a joint press conference that was set to take place at Sutter Health Park, home of the Sacramento River Cats–AAA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

It was a rainy, windy day—one that doesn’t mirror a typical Sacramento spring day—as Athletics owner John Fisher and Kings owner Vivek Ranadive announced that baseball would officially be leaving Oakland and that the franchise’s impending relocation would include a multi-year pit stop in West Sacramento.

Fast forward nearly one year later, and those cold, windy conditions welcomed the first regular season Major League Baseball in Sutter Health Park history.

More on the A’s first game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento

There’s no denying that Sutter Health Park is a beautiful baseball stadium. Now, whether or not it is fit to be a major league facility is another conversation.

As someone who grew up going to Sacramento River Cats games and spending many nights at the ballpark that is located in West Sacramento, just over the Tower Bridge and a stone’s throw from downtown Sacramento, the upgrades made over the offseason were notable, especially the two-story clubhouse that is located in left field.

Among the upgrades: A new clubhouse, a 75-foot by 35-foot  jumbo-tron in right-center field, ribbon boards around the field, various TV screens located around the concourse, new grass–along with “cutting edge” advancements to enhance field performance–, expanded dugouts, upgraded stadium lights, and updated premium clubs that are located around the stadium.

Millions of dollars were invested in making Sutter Health Park as major-league ready as possible, and the playing surface of the field held up to that challenge. We’ll see how the conditions hold up come summer, when the sweltering heat and constant schedule of A’s/River Cats games affect the new sod that was recently installed.

An image of the pregame and postgame media interview space went viral on social media. The structure somewhat resembled a shed with a tarp roof, one that fluttered in the wind as interviews took place with A’s stars Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker early Monday.

The A’s press conference setup at Sutter Health Park pic.twitter.com/WPrkSf0ijQ

— Ben Ross (@BenRossTweets) March 31, 2025

The “shed” of a press conference setup and constant run-ins with workers who were installing TVs around the concourse and media areas acted as a reminder that while the player ammenties and stadium attractions like the lighting and jumbo-trons have been upgraded, it’s all still a work in progress with 80 home games remaining for the Athletics.

Fans lined the gates hours before doors were opened to the public, and by the time 5 pm arrived, fans began flooding into the outfield grass areas in a scene that resembled concert goers rushing to the front of the stage to get the best spot possible.

More than an hour before first pitch, the bowl of Sutter Health Park was filling up, with the grass section resembling a sea of green and yellow.

According to the A’s, all 12,192 tickets were sold at the 10,624-seat ballpark—those who didn’t have stadium seats packed into the lawn in right-center field or took in the game from standing-room-only spots around the concourse.

As far as atmosphere goes, the packed crowd, updated sound system, and smell of ballpark food created an environment that you look forward to experiencing at a Major League Baseball game.

Sure, the climate could have been more enjoyable–58 degrees at first pitch, dipping down to 50 degrees by 8:30 pm as the wind whipped around the stadium–but fans showed up in bunches for the inaugural A’s game in Sacramento.

Summer months will provide another challenge, especially if 2025 mirrors Sacramento’s record-breaking 2024, but a warm day with these conditions would make for a solid experience. Once the heat ramps up in June, that might be a different story.

Absolutely packed for Opening Night at Sutter Health Park pic.twitter.com/wRqL2qaQzV

— Chris Watkins (@ChrisMWatkins) April 1, 2025

All appeared to be going well for the A’s–well, until the game started.

The Chicago Cubs immediately poured it on early by jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, which took a lot of energy out of the crowd of 12,000-plus.

Athletics infielder Jacob Wilson mashed his first career home run to send a jolt into the stadium, but outside of that moment, it was all Chicago in this one as the Cubs coasted to an 18-3 win–the most runs allowed by any MLB team in their home-opener since 1925.

As the game got out of hand, various “Let’s go Oakland” and “Sell the team” chants broke out around the stadium, which is to be expected not just this year, but throughout the A’s three-year tenure in Sacramento. Those chants will likely follow the team to Las Vegas in 2028, and further down the line as long as John Fisher remains at the organization’s helm.

Fisher, who is working closely with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive (who also owns the River Cats and Sutter Health Park), was in attendance for the opener–as was Ranadive, who entered the field prior to first pitch–clad in Athletics green and gold–to make a brief announcement to fans in attendance:

“Play ball!”

Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, decked out in A’s gear, with a simple message ahead of first pitch:

“Play ball.” pic.twitter.com/hZYMMGQrn3

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) April 1, 2025

Like it or not, Major League Baseball has arrived in Sacramento as the Athletics enter a new chapter in their franchise’s ever-growing history.

Throughout the next three years, both A’s and opposing players will get a chance to visit and share their thoughts on the conditions of Sutter Health Park, with Cubs reliever Ryan Brasier stating that “it’s stupid” to play in a minor league park, rather than play at the Oakland Coliseum.

The book is open on the A’s tenure in Sacramento. How will players reflect on the next three years in California’s capital city? Monday night was the first of many chances for players and fans to experience this temporary marriage.

One game down. At least 242 to go.

Upcoming 2025 Athletics Schedule

• Monday, March 31st-Wednesday, April 2nd – vs. Chicago Cubs
• Friday, April 4th-Sunday, April 6th – @ Colorado Rockies
• Monday, April 7th-Wednesday, April 9th – vs. San Diego Padres
• Friday, April 11th-Sunday, April 13th – vs. New York Mets
• Tuesday, April 15th-Thursday, April 17th – Chicago White Sox

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