As A’s depart Oakland, logistical questions remain about Sacramento move. ‘Long way to go’

In the Spotlight is a Sacramento Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email metro@sacbee.com .

While the Oakland A’s say goodbye to the Coliseum after playing there for 56 years, there are still unanswered questions about their future home in West Sacramento.

The Major League Baseball Players Association remains in discussions with A’s ownership and the league about ensuring the conditions for players are up to par at Sutter Health Park, the Triple-A ballpark with a 14,000-person capacity, where the A’s are planning to play for the next three seasons while sharing with the Sacramento River Cats as they build a new ballpark on the Las Vegas strip.

But no firm agreement is in place between MLB and the union, and it’s unclear when the MLBPA will give its stamp of approval on the renovations being made, including the installation of synthetic turf. As of Thursday, the A’s were 186 days away from their 2025 home opener against the Chicago Cubs scheduled for March 31.

“I think it’s just on our ownership to get it done and I think it’s on players in the MLBPA to make sure it’s up to a certain standard. Which, thus far, it has been,” said A’s second baseman Zack Gelof, the team’s union representative, on Wednesday.

Gelof confirmed the MLBPA cannot veto the A’s move altogether, in line with the league’s statement issued to The Sacramento Bee earlier this month which said the move is a “certainty.”

“I guess the plans are in place, but I don’t really know how much progress, how the progress is being made, just because we’re focusing on our season right here,” Gelof said. The A’s after Thursday’s home finale play three more games this year, on the road in Seattle.

Infielder Nick Allen has had stints with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators over the past four years and most recently played at Sutter Health Park on Aug. 27 before getting promoted to the big leagues the following day. Based on what he saw, there is plenty of work to be done to upgrade the ballpark for the A’s.

“In my opinion, they got a long way to go to make it big league-like,” Allen said, noting more work can be done because the River Cats’ season ended Sunday. “Now it’s their time to go. I think they got to do a good amount of stuff to accommodate for (Major Leaguers).”

A new A’s clubhouse has been under construction for weeks beyond the left field wall. The current visiting clubhouse will house visiting teams for both the A’s and River Cats, and it will include new weight rooms and batting cages.

Other upgrades include a new scoreboard, 20-seat press box, lighting, television booth, batters’ eye and Hawk-Eye tracking system which is used at all Major League ballparks. The River Cats over the summer announced renovations were being done to their club areas for premium ticket holders.

The most premium season tickets sold out in August while others are expected to cost $15,000 to $20,000 per seat, per season. New season ticket holders require a three-year commitment to purchase tickets.

Remembering the Coliseum

The A’s on Wednesday were feeling more reflective about leaving Oakland than willing to look too far into the future. The team was preparing for its penultimate game in the Coliseum ahead of the last scheduled game there Thursday afternoon against the Texas Rangers.

“It’s emotional in a lot of ways,” said outfielder Brent Rooker, who was an All-Star in 2023. “The stadium’s special to me. It’s played a huge part in the development in my career. It’s played a huge part in my life and the lives of my family.”

Added manager Mark Kotsay, whose playing career with the A’s began in 2004: “When people come here, they don’t know what to expect. They don’t think that their experience might be better than where they’ve been before. But no one leaves here saying they didn’t enjoy their experience. ... We’ve always had a belief and an understanding that this place is more about the people and the relationships, and I think that’s also something to be said about the fans and their relationship with the team as well.”

Players spent time before the game getting autographs from roving instructor Rickey Henderson — who presented the lineup card to the umpires and joined part of the TV broadcast on NBC Sports California — packing up keepsakes from the dilapidated ballpark and answering questions about leaving the Oakland fans.

“We haven’t gotten to Sacramento. Until there’s closure in the season, (then) the focus will turn to Sacramento,” Kotsay said. “There’s been thoughts of planning for next season and the start and how the club will utilize our time prior to opening day there to get acclimated to the facilities.”

What’s next for Sutter Health Park, A’s employees?

A number of A’s staffers, including members of the marketing, communications and baseball operations departments, have been told they can keep their jobs in Sacramento if willing to relocate or commute from the Bay Area.

The A’s are not retaining a number of employees on their business side and will replace them with a mix of Kings and River Cats employees. Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé purchased the River Cats and the ballpark in 2022, and partnered with A’s owner John Fisher on moving the A’s to the capital region, which the two owners announced in April.

David Rinetti, the team’s current head of stadium operations, is slated to help oversee the transition to synthetic turf at Sutter Health Park while the team’s renowned groundskeeper, Clay Wood, decided against going to West Sacramento as a consultant.

There’s been talk of using turf with a cooling system beneath it to accommodate Sacramento’s warm temperatures.

Five MLB teams use artificial turf, including manager Bruce Bochy’s Rangers, but all five play in domes or stadiums with retractable roofs. The A’s would be the only team to have turf in an outdoor stadium. The turf would be installed because natural grass couldn’t take the wear and tear of the 156 combined games played by the A’s and River Cats in 2025.

But there are concerns, including from prominent agent Scott Boras , about the temperature of the turf during Sacramento’s hot summer months.

“I think you have to look at the number of games they’re playing there,” said Bochy, who won three World Series titles as manager of the San Francisco Giants. “It’s hard to keep the field in top top shape when you’re playing 150 games on it. So I understand the turf thing, and I know how hot it gets in Sacramento. I’ve been there.

“It’s going to be easier on the playing surface, playing on turf. We play on turf and we don’t have anybody complaining about our turf. It’s a lot better than it used to be.”

The exact type of synthetic turf that will be installed at Sutter Health Park has not been finalized.

“I think, like a lot of people, I’m a little surprised because this is a nice park and a great playing surface,” Bochy said of the Coliseum.

“It’s temporary, but it’s a long temporary. You’re looking at a few years there.”