Oakland Athletics to temporarily play in minor league ballpark near Sacramento before relocating to Las Vegas

The Oakland Athletics have announced their plans to leave Oakland after this season and play temporarily at a minor league park near Sacramento until their new stadium in Las Vegas is built. The decision comes after the team was unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland.

Owner John Fisher stated, “Even with the long-standing relationship and good intentions on all sides in the negotiations with Oakland, the conditions to achieve an agreement seemed out of reach.” The move to Las Vegas was approved by MLB owners last November, sparking anger among fans in Oakland.

The A’s will play the next three seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, a minor league stadium with 10,624 fixed seats and a capacity of 14,014 fans with lawn seating and standing room. Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, who also owns the River Cats, expressed excitement about welcoming the A’s to their park.

Commissioner Rob Manfred thanked the Kings and Sacramento leaders for their efforts in reaching an agreement. By staying in Northern California, the A’s hope to retain a large share of their local television rights held by NBC Sports California, which is worth a reported $67 million a year.

The move marks the end of an era for the A’s in Oakland, as they prepare to embark on a new chapter in Las Vegas. Fans will have the opportunity to celebrate the team’s time in Oakland throughout the final season at Sutter Health Park.