It was a rough first homestand for the Athletics in their new Sacramento home at Sutter Health Park.
Over 31,000 fans packed the minor league stadium to see the A’s get swept by the Chicago Cubs in the three-game series. The Cubs dominated offensively, scoring 35 runs, including 18 in one game.
Sacramento is hosting the A’s temporarily while the franchise’s new Las Vegas stadium is being built, expected to open for the 2028 season.
Owner John Fisher was heavily criticized for moving the team out of Oakland to a minor league ballpark, ending decades of fan loyalty.
But will the A’s actually remain in Sacramento for the next three years?
A’s insider reveals issues facing Sacramento ballpark
During an appearance on the “Foul Territory” baseball podcast, Chris Biderman, A’s reporter for the Sacramento Bee, revealed he wouldn’t be shocked if the team’s stay in California’s capital city ends after just one season.
“A lot of things are going to reveal themselves as the season goes on. We talked about the attendance, is that going to hold up over the long term particularly if the A’s aren’t winning? Is the field going to hold up? How’s that going to work?” Biderman questioned.
Sacramento could be one and done for the A's, says @ChrisBiderman. 👀
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 3, 2025
"You have a Major League ballpark sitting there in Oakland." pic.twitter.com/xlmnxE0kx5
“I don’t think it’s a sure thing that the A’s are going to be in Sacramento this whole three-year stretch. I don’t think that’s a given, particularly if the field gets completely baked out, it turns into concrete by the time August comes around, if opposing teams voice their complaints.”
Biderman believes Oakland could return as an option if Sacramento proves unsuitable, since the Oakland Coliseum remains a Major League-ready facility.
“If enough of these factors go poorly for the A’s, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Sacramento thing is a one-and-done because you do have a Major League ballpark sitting there in Oakland,” noted Biderman.
The Coliseum is currently being used by the Oakland Roots soccer team of the USL Championship, but could be readily converted back to baseball configuration.
“Despite the team’s relationship with the local officials being completely fractured and the fan base being completely fractured, you do have a Major League ballpark there that’s sitting unused that could potentially make more sense for the A’s than West Sacramento if things go poorly,” said Biderman.
