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A big change is coming to West Sacramento’s Bridge District with the Oakland Athletics relocating to play at Sutter Health Park starting in 2025 where they’ll share a stadium with the River Cats. With that will come more attention and foot traffic to the area, which means local businesses will look to take advantage.
One planned to open next spring will be called Birdies Social Club, an entertainment venue that will offer a full-service bar and restaurant fare. It will feature golf simulator bays that can be turned into viewing areas for big events like the Super Bowl, UFC fights, Kings games and streams of Coachella concerts on 200-inch 4K projectors. There will also be space for DJs and live music.
Birdies Social Club will be in a 6,650-square foot commercial space at 805 Riverfront St., a short walk beyond the right field foul pole east of Sutter Health Park, offering a place to go before and after ballgames. The total capacity is expected to be roughly 300 people for big events and 170 seated at the restaurant.
It’s slated to open next April or May, around the time the A’s begin playing their first season in the capital region.
“Our ultimate goal is to be the premier entertainment venue,” said Nick Wooten, owner of West Sacramento Entertainment LLC, who is overseeing the project. “We’re going to be offering live music and entertainment. The golf is going to be an immersive golf experience, but we also want those golf bays for hosting viewing parties.”
The Sacramento Business Journal first reported the planned venue earlier this week. Its name had not yet been announced.
Wootten is currently in the design phase after recently securing a lease for the space. The Placerville native who lives in San Francisco has long discussed moving back to the area with his wife to start a new entertainment venue. The A’s coming to West Sacramento signaled it was the right time.
“I love the growth that’s happening in West Sacramento,” Wootten said. “But any time we spend time there, the entertainment options are limited. I really love the Bridge District just because of its walkability. A lot of my inspiration for doing an entertainment venue is going to come from Europe. So I wanted to be in a location that’s very walkable.”
Wootten said he’s working to partner with an executive chef to handle the restaurant side of the business. The plan is to have “elevated cantina food” that stands out from common pub grub, he said.
“Think very authentic Mexican dishes,” Wootten said.
Wootten’s hope is the venue provides a good place for families to come before and after baseball games, and offer the opportunity to rent out golf simulator bays for groups and parties. There will be five bays, including two with extra space including exclusive outdoor patios. Wootten also hopes to offer golf lessons from teaching professionals down the line.
Another golf and entertainment venue, Topgolf, announced this month it was planning to build a new venue in South Natomas , about 4 miles north of Sutter Health Park up Interstate 5 off West El Camino Avenue. An opening date for the new Topgolf has not yet been announced.
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