Lease Expiration and Temporary Move to Sacramento
The Athletics’ long-term relationship with the Oakland Coliseum is officially coming to an end after the 2024 season, as their lease is set to expire. With negotiations between the team and the City of Oakland failing to yield a lease extension, the club has chosen Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, as their temporary home for the 2025-2027 seasons.
Sutter Health Park, home to the River Cats (the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate), will provide a stopgap solution for the team while construction on their future ballpark in Las Vegas unfolds. While the prospect of a temporary home offers logistical relief, the move also signals the team's definitive departure from Oakland, further deepening tensions with their longtime fan base.
Permanent Move to Las Vegas in 2028
The Athletics’ ultimate destination is Las Vegas, where the franchise plans to build a state-of-the-art ballpark. The new facility will be constructed on a 9-acre parcel of land formerly occupied by the Tropicana Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. To pave the way for the ballpark, the Tropicana is set to be demolished, and construction is slated to be completed in time for the 2028 MLB season.
Las Vegas, already well-established as a rising sports hub with the success of the NFL’s Raiders and the NHL’s Golden Knights, is expected to provide a vibrant new market for the Athletics. If the ballpark construction experiences delays, however, the team may have the option to extend their stay in Sacramento through the 2028 season.
Partnership with the Sacramento Kings
The Athletics’ temporary relocation to Sacramento has been made possible through a partnership with the NBA's Sacramento Kings. The Kings, who are also the majority owners of the River Cats, helped broker the arrangements for the Athletics’ use of Sutter Health Park. This collaboration not only ensures the Athletics have a viable venue during the interim but also reflects positive strides in inter-league partnerships.
The agreement includes the aforementioned contingency plan to allow the team to extend their stay in West Sacramento if unforeseen delays prevent the Las Vegas ballpark from being ready in time for the 2028 MLB season.
Challenges and Controversies
The move has not come without its share of challenges and dissent. Athletics fans in Oakland have responded with frustration and disappointment, holding out hope that the team might stay in the Bay Area. Furthermore, concerns have emerged about Sutter Health Park’s suitability as a host for MLB games. Critics have pointed out potential player safety issues with the stadium's artificial turf, which has drawn scrutiny from the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
Super-agent Scott Boras has been among those raising these safety concerns, underscoring how the temporary move to Sacramento might hinge on whether Sutter Health Park meets MLBPA standards. If these issues cannot be resolved, a return to the Oakland Coliseum remains an unlikely but lingering backup option.
Commissioner and Local Reaction
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has praised Sacramento for its willingness to host the Athletics temporarily. The greater Sacramento area has seen this as an opportunity to present itself as a credible market for professional baseball. Fans and local sports figures view the team’s arrival—albeit temporary—as a chance to showcase the city’s ability to host high-level sports and possibly attract future interest from MLB organizations.
While excitement brews in Sacramento, the Athletics’ departure leaves a notable void for Oakland, a city that has already lost the NFL’s Raiders and is now bidding farewell to its baseball team. The relocation story, filled with emotional highs and lows, serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between business interests, community identity, and professional sports.
Looking Ahead
As the Athletics prepare for a transitional era bridging Sacramento and Las Vegas, questions linger about how the team will navigate logistical and emotional hurdles. With the temporary stay in West Sacramento looming and the permanent Las Vegas ballpark on the horizon, this chapter of the franchise’s history will undoubtedly shape its future narrative, both on and off the field.