What we learned from the Oakland A’s press conference in Sacramento

Apr 4, 2024, 2:18 PM | Updated: 2:19 pm

Sactown Sports

On a gloomy, rainy, morning in West Sacramento, officials with the Oakland A’s, Sacramento Kings and local leaders gathered at Sutter Health Park to announce a new partnership and temporary home for the Bay Area franchise.

Vivek Ranadive, owner of the Sacramento Kings, spoke first, thanking Athletics owner John Fisher for an opportunity to host the team. The A’s will call Sutter Health Park home from 2025-28 with an option for a fourth year.

“You’re going to have lower-bowl seats. You’re going to have [Zack] Gelof at second. You’re going to see [Shohei] Ohtani. You’re going to see Aaron Judge hitting home runs out there,” Ranadive said, adding that watching baseball at Sutter Health Park will be “like having lower bowl seats at a basketball game. Every seat is amazing.”

Sacramento will be the fourth home for the franchise. The team originates from Philadelphia where they played from 1901-1954. The Athletics then moved to Kansas City until 1968, when they relocated to Oakland. The A’s long-term goal is to eventually move to Las Vegas.

Relocation means the Oakland A’s would be the first team to move since the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals in 2005.

What will the Oakland A’s be called in Sacramento?

Just the Athletics or A’s. Oakland A’s president Dave Kaval said the franchise will honor Sacramento while they take up residency at Sutter Health Park, but the team will be without a city affiliation.

A strange part of the A’s relocation to Sacramento is the fact that they’re dropping the city name completely.

“The A’s” That’s it.

Seal. Cher. Zendaya. Bono. A’s…?

So, are scorebugs just going to say “A’s” next year? Very weird.

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) April 4, 2024

Where will the River Cats play?

While that wasn’t disclosed at Thursday’s press conference, it was noted that Major League Baseball will work closely with the A’s and River Cats to create a schedule that is accommodating to both teams. The two teams will also have dedicated spaces in the facility.

What is Sutter Health Park’s capacity?

The home of the Sacramento River Cats can hold 14,014 visitors. Through seven games so far this season, the Oakland A’s have averaged 6,438 fans, with the most (13,522) coming out on opening day. According to ESPN, the Athletics ranked last in attendance in 2023, averaging only 10,275 fans per game.

Are tickets available for the Oakland A’s 2025 season in Sacramento?

Current Oakland A’s season ticket holders will get first priority to renew their tickets. More details about ticket information will become available once the