The Oakland Athletics have announced their plans to play their home games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for the next three seasons before moving to Las Vegas. However, before the A’s can begin playing at Sutter Health Park, they must ensure that the stadium meets Major League Baseball standards.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) will need to sign off on the stadium meeting league standards. Discussions between the MLBPA and MLB have already begun, and the union spokesperson expects them to continue as the A’s work to prepare Sutter Health Park for their temporary stay.
Sutter Health Park was originally built as a Minor League stadium and recently underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation. The Sacramento Kings, who operate the stadium, have stated that they will make modifications to ensure that the ballpark meets MLB standards. This includes upgrading the LED lighting, adding an additional clubhouse, and improving other amenities to meet the requirements of Major League Baseball.
The minor league ballpark is currently home to the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. In order to accommodate the A’s, additional improvements will need to be made to the clubhouses, weight rooms, field, and other facilities to bring Sutter Health Park up to MLB standards.
