West Sacramento Mayor shares vision for MLB ballpark in Sacramento

The Oakland Athletics will relocate to Sacramento for the 2025-27 seasons, but the city of West Sacramento is eying a lengthier pact between itself and an MLB team.

During Friday’s edition of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, the guys were joined by Martha Guerrero, the Mayor of West Sacramento, to share her vision for a new ballpark on the riverfront, explain how this idea can become a reality, and much more.

Plus, Dave and the Mayor discuss whether or not this plan could be applied to a future MLS stadium if the A’s end up relocating–as planned–to Las Vegas in 2028.

 

Topics Discussed: MLB in Sacramento & hopes for a new ballpark

• The Mayor believes there is potential to build a 40-50,000-seat MLB stadium in West Sacramento
• “We want to make sure that on Opening Day, everyone is set and ready to go.”
• Is Mayor Guerrero attempting to get a stadium lined up in case the A’s deal with Las Vegas falls through?
• How will West Sacramento fund a ballpark that can house the Athletics long term? Could this be built privately?
• Has there been any talks with Kevin Nagle on using this plan to build a new MLS stadium if the MLB plan falls through?
• Would the Mayor be open to building a new soccer stadium in West Sacramento?

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

Click here for full episodes of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross.

More on the Oakland Athletics & MLB relocation to Sacramento

The Oakland Athletics will relocate to Sacramento beginning next season, but plenty of work will need to be done this fall and winter to ensure their home ballpark meets MLB standards by Opening Day 2025.

According to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, Sutter Health Park will receive major-league upgrades–including an entirely new playing surface–before next season begins.

The West Sacramento ballpark is home of the San Francisco Giants’ AAA affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, and both the Athletics and River Cats will share the diamond for at least the next three seasons as the city of Las Vegas begins construction on a stadium.

The target date for completing the Las Vegas ballpark is 2028, but many around the league are skeptical that will come to fruition. This means that MLB and Sacramento will need to upgrade Sutter Health Park for the long haul in case the A’s remain in Northern California past the 2027 season.

“They are actually constructing a separate building adjacent to the stadium that will be the home clubhouse,” Manfred said in late May at the conclusion of MLB’s spring owner meetings, per The Athletic‘s Evan Drellich.

“They’re renovating the visiting clubhouse. There’s going to be new artificial turf installed. They are upgrading the camera capability, so they get major-league quality broadcasts out of Sacramento,” Manfred continued. “There are some revenue-associated renovations: some club seating and video boards that are being done in the stadium.

“So, there’s a lot going on there to get it up to snuff for the interim period. They’ve had great receptivity. I think they have seat deposits from, like, 13,000 people or something. They’re doing okay.”

Sutter Health Park and the River Cats are owned by Vivek Ranadive, owner of the Sacramento Kings.

“I’m thrilled to welcome the A’s to Sutter Health Park, where players and fans alike can enjoy a world-class baseball experience and create unforgettable memories,” Ranadive said. “Today marks the next chapter of professional sports in Sacramento. The passion of our fans is second to none, and this is an incredible opportunity to showcase one of the most dynamic and vibrant markets in the country.”

Major League Baseball approved the Athletics’ proposal for relocation to Las Vegas in November.

Plans are in place for a $1.5 billion, nine-acre stadium at the site of the Tropicana Hotel with the City of Las Vegas granting $380 million in public funding for construction in 2023. However, the ballpark will not open until at least the end of the 2027 calendar year, meaning the first season it could host the A’s in the regular season would be 2028.

Sutter Health Park opened in 2000 and has 10,624 seats, but could be modified to accommodate up to 14,000.

Thank you for reading SactownSports.com. Follow us on Twitter and Google News, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Follow @FCartoscelli3

Newsletter