Could Sacramento keep A if Las Vegas moves tents? originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Athletics plans play the next three MLB seasons at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento before moving to a proposed stadium in Las Vegas in 2028.
But what might happen if the A’s Las Vegas plans stall or fail? Could the team remain in Sacramento beyond the 2027 season?
In an article published Wednesday, ESPN Tim Keown spoke to multiple sources close to negotiations involving the A’s, Oakland and Sacramento city officials, and one source believes the team remaining in the state capital if the Las Vegas deal hits a snag was part of the motivation for Kings owner Vivek Ranadive , allow the MLB franchise to use the Triple-A stadium rent-free.
“Vivek is definitely brilliant,” the source, who was granted anonymity, told Keown. “He made an assessment: Vegas will eventually fall apart and wherever the team is at that moment, it will remain. He’s not the only one who believes that.”
During last Thursday’s press conference in Sacramento, Ranadive made it clear he wants to show everyone that the city is “world class” and can support professional sport.
“[A’s owner] John [Fisher], thank you for this opportunity to be part of the A’s legacy and show the world why Sacramento is a destination city for major league sports,” Ranadive said last Thursday. “I also want to thank MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. It is an honor for West Sacramento to host Major League Baseball at Sutter Health Park.”
But when speaking to reporters after Thursday’s press conference, Ranadive said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred did not undertake to give Sacrament a future expansion team.
“Yes, there is no guarantee,” said Ranadive. “We have to show what we can do, and I have complete confidence that if we decide something… this is an incredible city, we have the best fans in the world. world and at the end of the day, the best fans in the world will make it happen.”
Fisher, team president Dave Kaval and the A’s are full steam ahead on a plan to move to Las Vegas in time for the start of the 2028 MLB season. But if the train derails, Sacramento could be the best option to keep the team.
