A’s opening day is March 31. What to know ahead of the first home game in West Sacramento
Community focused and connected effort where we support our neighbors, celebrate our culture and take pride in our teams. West Sacramento’s partnership with the Kings has brought *** world class upgrades to Sutter Health Park. Elevating it to MLB standards, this proves that our city is ready for the national spotlight. Thank you to our city team who made that happen. We have what it takes to cut through the red tape and deliver because West Sacramento is the best baseball town in the region. This history dates back when Sutter Health Park was built in those 19 months. We are so committed to that future in making that happen for whatever it takes here at Sutter Health Park. The A’s arrival marks *** significant milestone in the next step for the city of West Sacramento and the Greater Capital Region, presenting an opportunity over the next 3 years to show just how much of *** baseball city we are. We’re stepping onto the national stage during the next chapter of our region’s history, and this is *** historical moment and sparking new opportunities that will support the growth of the city of West Sacramento. This includes attracting baseball fans from around the country to experience our dynamic city, experience the West Way, and experience this beautiful Sutter Health Park, the jewel of our city. After all, this is about more than just baseball. It’s about building *** culture and an environment that celebrates the best of what we have to offer in our riverfront. So thank you so much for being here today, and I’m going to welcome our city manager Aaron Laurel to give *** few remarks. Thank you, Mayor Greer for that introduction and also thanks to our city council for setting the stage to make this opportunity possible in the first place. Today we are here to celebrate the arrival of the athletics, but just for *** moment, I want to take you back *** ways, and Mayor Grero touched on this, and it’s about 25 years ago to this date. At that time, Sutter Hill Park was brand new, but for the rest of the area we’re standing in today, it was mostly *** landscape of antiquated and vacant industrial uses, warehouses, grain silos, and rail lines. Uh, there was more or less one way in and out of the bridge District at that time. It wasn’t even the bridge district. It was called the Triangle for those of you that remember. and in short, it was nothing like you see today. The construction of this stadium for the River Cats at that time was the spark that ignited the redevelopment of the bridge district and the West Sacramento Riverfront. And now you see it emerging before us with new housing and lots more on the way. We have *** new project over there, 7 story mixed use project. It is *** first of its kind on the riverfront. And now our city is proud to welcome the A’s and we’re equally proud and appreciative of the reinvestment. That the Sacramento Kings and River Cats have made in this stadium to accommodate Major League Baseball for the next few seasons just like it was 25 years ago, that reinvestment in our ballpark will be an impactful compliment to what we’re already doing along the riverfront in terms of that revitalization and also to the downtown core of Sacramento, which is *** key part we are *** key part of culturally, economically. West Sacramento’s riverfront is just as important as other parts of the urban core of the Sacramento region. We’re proud of that. It’s also important to note that for *** lot of people coming to A’s games, it’s probably going to be their first time setting foot in West Sacramento, and for some, it’s probably their first time coming to the Sacramento region. And so for that we’re excited to be on the national spotlight that this puts on our city and to the urban core, and because of that for the last year we’ve been preparing to meet that moment and as we stand here today, I’m very confident to tell you that we’re ready. We’re ready to ensure *** seamless and safe experience for baseball fans. We’ve coordinated with our law enforcement resources. You’ll hear from our chief in *** minute, and we’re also carefully planning for traffic management and parking. Within those plans, we’ve been most mindful of minimizing the impacts to surrounding neighborhoods, um, and also looking to capitalize on the opportunity presents for our local businesses. We’re ready to promote and capture newfound tourism and economic opportunity that this next few seasons of Major League Baseball will bring to our city and the region. We have an amazing dining scene, not just in West Sacramento, but obviously on both sides of the river. There’s lots of posts and pre-game opportunities for entertainment, and we want to make sure that this new audience to our city and our region is informed and has *** great experience in our community. To that end, we’re creating informational resources like websites and other materials to inform people, and we’ve been working with our local businesses to ensure that they’re ready for this opportunity. Both in the short term and beyond the next 3 seasons, our city recently launched several support programs for West businesses, including grants and marketing initiatives that help our restaurants capitalize on increased foot traffic and to sustain growth beyond these Major League Baseball seasons. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, we’re ready to show the world why West Sacramento and Sacramento region. are more prepared and deserving than ever to be *** permanent home to Major League Baseball. To emphasize that point, I think it’s important to recognize what we’re doing here is something that has never been done before. And yes, that’s mainly the simultaneous hosting of *** major league team with *** minor league team, but it’s not just that, it’s about what we were able to accomplish as *** city with our partners to get to that point. We worked in lockstep to help the River Cats upgrade the stadium to Major League standards in *** very short time period, including improvements from everything from the dugouts to the field, to the lighting, the camera infrastructure, the press box, the seating, and probably most notably the new Major League clubhouse out in that field. This was no small feat to accomplish, but it’s *** true reflection of what’s possible here in West Sacramento and also what we’re capable of accomplishing together in the region and in the state of California. So let’s take this opportunity to celebrate that and appreciate this moment in West history and also what it means to the greater Sacramento region. And whether you’re already over here in West Sacramento or as we say, the baseball side of the river, or you’re coming from elsewhere in the region or anywhere else in the country, we’re ready and excited to show you *** great and unique Major League Baseball experience. And now I’d like to invite our police chief Rob Strange to speak *** little bit more about our preparations for the baseball season. Thank you. Welcome and uh thank you so much for joining us in this very exciting day and being part of that, that energy. So the arrival of the A’s in West Sacramento is bringing *** new level of energy to our city and certainly the region. Our officers are committed to ensuring *** safe and secure environment for attendees and for our neighbors here around Sutter Health Park. We continue working with city leaders on both sides of the river, the A’s, with traffic management, with local businesses and neighborhood groups coordinating to mitigate the impacts of the more frequent event crowds we will experience. And we’re doing that while we’re also continuing the core work that we do in crime prevention and addressing the area not only around the park but across the city. The reality is we are no strangers to sell out crowds at Cedar Health Park. With no major game-related traffic, parking, or security issues reported last Sunday’s River Cats and Giants exhibition game demonstrated our collective readiness and the payoff of our coordinated planning and more than two decades of experience hosting here at this ballpark. We are confident that our coordinated efforts will help ensure *** smooth and safe experience for fans, for residents, and for local businesses. This collaboration will be demonstrated on day one, next Monday, March 31st at the A’s opener. When we will once again do that collective work to mitigate traffic, expedite parking, manage public transit, and do our part to make this an awesome experience for fans and *** positive addition for all of our residents. Thank you so much. I’m gonna turn the mic back over to Mayor Guerrero. Thank you, Chief, and thank you to the city manager and also like to introduce our fire chief Steve Bins right there. Wave your hands, Steve. So we are so excited here to be here with you in this. Preparation for the opening day of the A’s and we would like to continue to chat with you *** little more as we connect with the media to share more about what is happening, what we’re planning on doing and that partnership with the A’s and the River Cats welcoming them with *** warm welcome to our city. So let’s continue to chat and also thank the city council for all their work and and all the staff. Thank you.
A’s opening day is March 31. What to know ahead of the first home game in West Sacramento
Updated: 12:34 PM PDT Mar 24, 2025
The Athletics are set to play their first-ever home game in West Sacramento on March 31, and the team is planning a large celebration for opening day.| PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Excitement builds at Sutter Health Park with new upgradesThe team will call Sutter Health Park home for at least three years while its new arena in Las Vegas is being built. During this time, Sacramento-area baseball fans will be able to enjoy games from both the A’s and the Sacramento River Cats, a Triple-A franchisee of the San Francisco Giants. | RELATED READ | A full timeline of everything leading to the moveOn Monday, one week out from opening day, the A’s released plans that include live music, giveaways, and a flyover. Below is what to expect on the first home game, which is against the Chicago Cubs.When do gates open?Gates open to all fans at 5:05 p.m. Each fan will get a green-and-white trucker hat with the new Sacramento jersey patch that the players will wear this season. They will also get a Rickey Henderson rally towel, honoring the team’s greatest player in franchise history.Are lawn seats available?The team said for all 81 home games, 250 lawn seats will be available for a fixed price of $25, including on March 31. Those seats will be made available on the day of each game.Honoring Rickey HendersonAlong with the rally towels, all the players and coaches will wear the No. 24, which was Henderson’s number. Rickey’s three daughters, Angela, Alexis and Adriana, will throw out simultaneous ceremonial first pitches.Sacramento-area artist and performance painter David Garibaldi will create a mural of Henderson.A military flyover on opening dayAs part of MLB opening day tradition, military aircraft will fly over the stadium. This flyover will launch from Beale Air Force Base.Both teams will be on the field for introductions and the national anthem, which will be sung by Shane Q, a Sacramento native who was a top 10 finisher in “The Voice.” Some season ticket members will also hold a 100-foot-by-50-foot American flag in the center of the field.Live musicSan Francisco-based party band The Freshmakers will perform on the ticket plaza while DJ Christie plays outside the right field gate as fans enter the stadium. Following the national anthem, DJ Christie will be inside the ballpark playing through the night.Stadium upgradesPart of the agreement to temporarily house the A’s includes ensuring Sutter Health Park meets MLB standards. Some of those upgrades include improved scoreboards to view instant replays, enhanced lighting and a completely redone field. There is now also a clubhouse that includes a dedicated player training and recovery center.What can you bring to Sutter Health Park?Leave your backpacks at home unless they are clear plastic. A clutch is approved but a purse isn’t. Here’s a full list of what’s allowed and not allowed at the stadium. Watch parties Drake’s: The Barn is now open seven days a week to cash in on the A’s playing in West Sacramento. Drake’s will also have an opening day watch party with live music and specials.What’s the forecast? As of Thursday, the weather outlook calls for showers earlier in the day but conditions should be dry by the first pitch at 7 p.m. Find ticket information here.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The Athletics are set to play their first-ever home game in West Sacramento on March 31, and the team is planning a large celebration for opening day.
| PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Excitement builds at Sutter Health Park with new upgrades
The team will call Sutter Health Park home for at least three years while its new arena in Las Vegas is being built. During this time, Sacramento-area baseball fans will be able to enjoy games from both the A’s and the Sacramento River Cats, a Triple-A franchisee of the San Francisco Giants.
| RELATED READ | A full timeline of everything leading to the move
On Monday, one week out from opening day, the A’s released plans that include live music, giveaways, and a flyover. Below is what to expect on the first home game, which is against the Chicago Cubs.
When do gates open?
Gates open to all fans at 5:05 p.m. Each fan will get a green-and-white trucker hat with the new Sacramento jersey patch that the players will wear this season. They will also get a Rickey Henderson rally towel, honoring the team’s greatest player in franchise history.
Are lawn seats available?
The team said for all 81 home games, 250 lawn seats will be available for a fixed price of $25, including on March 31. Those seats will be made available on the day of each game.
Honoring Rickey Henderson
Along with the rally towels, all the players and coaches will wear the No. 24, which was Henderson’s number. Rickey’s three daughters, Angela, Alexis and Adriana, will throw out simultaneous ceremonial first pitches.
Sacramento-area artist and performance painter David Garibaldi will create a mural of Henderson.
A military flyover on opening day
As part of MLB opening day tradition, military aircraft will fly over the stadium. This flyover will launch from Beale Air Force Base.
Both teams will be on the field for introductions and the national anthem, which will be sung by Shane Q, a Sacramento native who was a top 10 finisher in “The Voice.” Some season ticket members will also hold a 100-foot-by-50-foot American flag in the center of the field.
Live music
San Francisco-based party band The Freshmakers will perform on the ticket plaza while DJ Christie plays outside the right field gate as fans enter the stadium. Following the national anthem, DJ Christie will be inside the ballpark playing through the night.
Stadium upgrades
Part of the agreement to temporarily house the A’s includes ensuring Sutter Health Park meets MLB standards. Some of those upgrades include improved scoreboards to view instant replays, enhanced lighting and a completely redone field. There is now also a clubhouse that includes a dedicated player training and recovery center.
What can you bring to Sutter Health Park?
Leave your backpacks at home unless they are clear plastic. A clutch is approved but a purse isn’t. Here’s a full list of what’s allowed and not allowed at the stadium.
Watch parties
Drake’s: The Barn is now open seven days a week to cash in on the A’s playing in West Sacramento. Drake’s will also have an opening day watch party with live music and specials.
What’s the forecast?
As of Thursday, the weather outlook calls for showers earlier in the day but conditions should be dry by the first pitch at 7 p.m.
Find ticket information here.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
