The Athletics, who began their latest chapter in West Sacramento on March 31, are on a winding path that could lead to Las Vegas in the next few years.
As the franchise navigates its uncertain future, the debate over the move continues to divide fans and critics alike—with no clear resolution in sight.
Will the A’s Struggle to Sell Out Games Impact Their Vegas Relocation Plans?
The expectation was that the A’s would sell out every game in Sacramento, but they’ve only attracted 70% of capacity for their first weekend series at their temporary home. A team whose Vegas relocation hinges on a guarantee of 30 years of sold-out games is facing a tough challenge.
Honestly expected A’s to sell out every game in Sacramento, but on the 1st weekend series ever in their temp home, they’re only drawing 70% capacity. Bad omen for a team whose Vegas financing depends on a promise of 30 years of fully sold out home games https://t.co/eI12eEw8HH
— Coliseum Sewage (@ColiseumSewage) April 14, 2025
The final significant hurdles to the Athletics’ $1.75 billion stadium project on the Las Vegas Strip were cleared in December when the Las Vegas Stadium Authority approved the lease, non-relocation, and development agreements. Both the lease and non-relocation agreements have a 30-year term.
On September 26, 2024, the Athletics played their final game in Oakland after 57 seasons in the East Bay. With plans to build a new ballpark on the Strip, Major League Baseball owners overwhelmingly approved the team’s move to Las Vegas in late 2023.
However, the decision was not without controversy. There were concerns about the park’s amenities, particularly the players’ clubhouses, which were initially criticized for being located beyond the center-field wall rather than behind the first- and third-base lines, as is customary at most MLB stadiums. Despite millions of dollars spent renovating them to meet MLB standards, the issue remained unresolved.
The Athletics’ 2025 home schedule got off to a rough start on Monday. Playing at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, the A’s were soundly defeated 18-3 by the Chicago Cubs. In the game, Cubs catcher Carson Kelly made history by becoming the first player in MLB this season to hit for the cycle, marking the first such achievement by a Cubs player since 1993.
The Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, will share Sutter Health Park with the A’s for the next three seasons while the team waits for its new ballpark to be completed in Las Vegas.