Before the Athletics begin playing at Sutter Health Park next season, the Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento will need some upgrades to meet MLB standards. League commissioner Rob Manfred recently revealed the improvements that will be made to the Sacramento River Cats’ home field so that it will be ready to host big-league games for several years. Some of the upgrades include a new separate building for the home clubhouse, renovations to the visiting clubhouse, installation of new artificial turf, and upgrading camera capability for major-league quality broadcasts. Additionally, there will be renovations to add revenue-generating features like club seating and video boards in the stadium.
Manfred mentioned that there has been great receptivity to the upgrades, with 13,000 people already placing seat deposits for next season. The A’s announced on April 4 that they will be playing at Sutter Health Park from 2025 through at least 2027 after their Oakland Coliseum lease expires in 2024. The agreement includes an option for a fourth year in case their proposed Las Vegas ballpark isn’t ready by 2028. The MLBPA will need to sign off on Sutter Health Park meeting league standards before the A’s can settle in.
The news of MLB games coming to Sacramento has generated excitement among fans, but there is still much work to be done before the A’s can make Sutter Health Park their temporary home. With upgrades to the facilities and improvements to meet MLB standards, the stage is being set for an exciting era of baseball in West Sacramento.