Mark Kotsay, manager of the Oakland Athletics, took his usual pre-game stroll around the field, but this time it was more than just adding steps to his daily count. The walk also served as an opportunity to inspect the conditions of their new home, Sutter Health Park, in Sacramento.
Despite a morning rainstorm leaving the left-field corner swampy, Kotsay remained optimistic, confident that the field would be playable by game time. The stadium, still undergoing construction in certain areas, was adorned with red, white, and blue banners to celebrate the A’s home opener.
“We’ve embraced being here in every way,” Kotsay said, reflecting on the team’s transition after their opening game in Seattle. “From a playing standpoint, we’re settled. The nerves and excitement of opening day have settled, but tonight’s energy from the crowd will be a new experience, which is exciting.”
Fans showed up early, eager to support their team. Even with the chilly, blustery weather, a long line formed at the gates. Inside, chants of “Let’s Go Oakland!” echoed as a tribute to the team’s roots in their old city. Later, as the A’s trailed 16-3 in an eventual 18-3 loss, fans rallied with familiar chants of “Sell The Team!” directed at owner John Fisher, a sentiment carried over from last season.
The game experienced a brief delay in the seventh inning when a drone hovered over left field. It was quickly corralled by Stewart Thalblum, the bat boy and son of longtime visiting clubhouse manager Mikey Thalblum, before being removed by security.
In a heartfelt tribute, all A’s players wore No. 24 jerseys to honor the late Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who passed away just five days before his 66th birthday. A 24-second moment of silence was observed following player introductions, and Henderson’s three daughters threw ceremonial first pitches.
The Chicago Cubs, who had already played games in Japan and Arizona, were on hand to open the new A’s era. Cubs first baseman Justin Turner acknowledged the unique feeling of the game, saying, “It’s a normal road trip, but it feels a little different. Opening day here in Sacramento is special, and we’re looking forward to playing good baseball.”
Outside the stadium, alternating light poles displayed banners for both the A’s and the Sacramento River Cats, the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. The game drew a sellout crowd of 12,119, with the stadium’s full capacity being 13,146, including seating on the right-field grass berm.
This ballpark will serve as the A’s home in California’s capital for at least the next three years before they plan to move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas. The left-field swampiness was resolved by game time, thanks to the stadium’s sophisticated natural grass field and advanced cooling and draining systems, which will be vital during Sacramento’s hot summer months.
Owner John Fisher expressed satisfaction with the field, stating, “People have always thought our groundskeepers did an amazing job, and this field is definitely one of the most sophisticated ever created. It all came together in a short period of time, which is remarkable.”
Season ticket holders, like Dan Niccum and Ken McGuire, showed their support by purchasing tickets last year in Oakland, even though they only attended a few games during the A’s final season at the Coliseum. “We are really thrilled,” Niccum said. “Of course, we want them to stay in Sacramento, though we know their plans for Vegas are still up in the air.”
Longtime A’s coach Eric Martins reflected on the journey, recalling his time playing in the stadium’s opening season with Oakland’s Triple-A team 25 years ago. “This is a full-circle moment for me,” Martins said.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell, while not directly tied to the A’s history, found the layout reminiscent of San Francisco’s old Candlestick Park, where the clubhouses weren’t attached to the dugouts. “It’s similar to the spring training setup,” Counsell noted, highlighting the unique environment of Sutter Health Park.