NEW YORK — The Athletics, having made the decision to relocate from Oakland, will now be playing their home games on natural grass when they transition to Sacramento next season. This is a shift from the previous plan to use artificial turf at Sutter Health Park.
In April 2023, the team disclosed their plans to move to Las Vegas for a new ballpark, but in the interim, they will reside in Sacramento from 2025 to 2027 while awaiting the completion of the Nevada facility. Sutter Health Park is also currently home to the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, the River Cats.
Last summer, Major League Baseball announced a strategy to install synthetic turf that could support the rigorous schedule of up to 153 regular-season games during a 186-day span. The summer temperatures in Sacramento can climb as high as 115 degrees (46 degrees Celsius), and this raised alarms with the Major League Baseball Players Association regarding player safety and comfort.
Following consultations with the MLBPA, a determination was reached favoring the use of natural grass, reflecting the players’ strong preference for this surface. MLB confirmed through a statement that consensus had been achieved with the team and Sutter Health Park regarding this transition, moving forward with natural grass for the 2025 opening day.
The A’s will kick off their home season against the Chicago Cubs on March 31. Sutter Health Park can accommodate approximately 10,500 attendees.
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy expressed his views on the matter via text message, noting that while he had no specific safety concerns regarding turf since his team plays on it, he personally prefers avoiding it in outdoor stadiums and welcomed the recent news.
Las Vegas is set to become the Athletics’ fourth permanent home, following its stints in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, Kansas City from 1955 to 1967, and finally Oakland.
Field surface consultant Murray Cook evaluated the potential playing conditions and confirmed that a grass field would be feasible at Sutter Health Park, which has maintained a grass surface since its opening in 2000.
In addition to the field surface changes, a new clubhouse is underway for the Athletics, featuring a locker room, weight room, and training room facilities. The dugouts are also scheduled for renovations to enhance space, and improvements to the bullpens and the installation of a new batter’s eye are in progress following concerns from the union about visibility issues.