The Oakland Athletics have revealed their plan to relocate to West Sacramento, California, starting in 2025, as they await the construction of a new stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The announcement came from the A’s on Thursday, stating that they will host their home games at Sutter Health Park, the current home of the Minor League Baseball team Sacramento River Cats, for the 2025-2027 seasons.
The team’s ultimate intention is to move to Las Vegas by 2028. Sutter Health Park is situated 85.7 miles (138 kilometers) away from the Oakland Coliseum, providing a closer alternative compared to Las Vegas, which is more than six times farther from the A’s current home. According to A’s owner John Fisher, the franchise had initially aimed to stay in Oakland, its home since 1968, before transitioning to Sin City in 2028. However, despite efforts to negotiate an extension of their lease in Oakland, an agreement couldn’t be reached.
“We explored several locations for a temporary home, including the Oakland Coliseum,” Fisher explained in a statement.
“Our fans felt disappointment we acknowledge that the as this season marks our final one in Oakland. Throughout this period, we will pay tribute to and commemorate our time in Oakland, with more details to follow soon. We express our gratitude to the Kings and the City of West Sacramento, and eagerly anticipate making Sutter Health Park our temporary home until our new ballpark opens in Las Vegas,” he stated. The A’s gave declaration of their intention to relocate to Las Vegas in April of last year, a decision unanimously approved by MLB owners in September.
Following in the footsteps of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, who made the move from Oakland to Sin City in 2020, the A’s will become the city’s fourth major sports franchise, alongside the NHL’s Golden Knights, the WNBA’s Aces, and the Raiders.In the previous month, the A’s unveiled conceptual images of their forthcoming 33,000-seat stadium located on the Las Vegas Strip, boasting an imposing five-tier roof structure.
Drawing inspiration from baseball pennants, some observers have drawn comparisons between the stadium’s design and the iconic silhouette of the Sydney Opera House, while others likened the individual tiers to the protective scales of an armadillo. Despite Fisher’s assurances of an “unparalleled fan experience” within the new venue, lingering resentment persists among many fans regarding the decision to depart from Oakland. During June of 2023, fans at the Coliseum staged a “reverse boycott,” brandishing signs critical of Fisher’s ownership and urging him to divest from the team.