West Sacramento officials say they’re ready for A’s. Here are the game day plans
West Sacramento officials who were given less than a year to prepare for the arrival of Major League Baseball will put their logistical plans to the test Monday when the Athletics play their first game at Sutter Health Park.
Among the topics that have required extensive and strenuous planning: parking, the impact of more than 150 baseball games on surrounding neighborhoods, security staffing, and fans navigating nearby road and building construction.
The A’s announced last April they will play in Sutter Health Park for at least the next three years with an option for a fourth before their planned move to a new ballpark on the Las Vegas strip in 2028. In the meantime, they’ll share the 14,000-capacity ballpark with the Triple-A River Cats, who have called West Sacramento home for 25 years, beginning next week.
“West Sacramento has always been a baseball city,” said West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero. “... And (has) always been the baseball side of the river.”
Officials noted at a news conference outside the stadium Thursday there’s an advantage of having the experience of preparing for River Cats games, but adding 81 Major League games to the docket made things more complicated. The situation is unprecedented for Major League Baseball and the region, which has never hosted an MLB regular season game.
West Sacramento City Manager and Port CEO Aaron Laurel said there have been two aspects that have impacted planning the most.
“One, it’s the fact that we have a Major League Baseball team, and obviously the expected crowds,” Laurel said. “When you have not just the A’s playing every night, but a lot of the out-of-town teams that bring their own fanbase to the region, those are the things that are a little bit different than having a Triple-A team.
“The other big difference is just the sheer volume of games that we’re having to manage. It’s not just doubled, it more than doubled. It’s 153 nights of baseball.”
The A’s announced in January they sold out their season tickets and officials said they’re expecting roughly 90 games between Monday’s opener through September with sold-out or near-capacity crowds between the A’s and River Cats. Typically, the River Cats sell out a handful of games each year, including their annual exhibition against the San Francisco Giants. This year’s version happened last Sunday, allowing for a test run of traffic and parking plans before the A’s host the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
It’s expected the A’s will draw near-capacity crowds for the bulk of their games, particularly in series against popular teams like the Cubs, New York Yankees and the Giants.
“We actually feel pretty good about our traffic plan,” West Sacramento Police Chief Rob Strange said. “We’ve made a few changes since last season, just to help really keep folks directed, honestly given them fewer choices, especially about leaving. When they’re leaving, they’re going to get on a pathway, and they’re going to need to stay on that pathway.”
As an example, Strange said that fans needing to travel east after games toward the foothills might be directed toward westbound Interstate 80 and turn around at a later exit.
Laurel and Strange both indicated the early weeks and months of the season will be key, and West Sacramento’s plans are flexible enough to change and evolve if needed.
“We are a very nimble organization and city,” Laurel said. “We’re small enough to be that way, but large enough to bring resources when they’re required. So as we go through these next few months of the season, if we need to make adjustments to any of the operations, aspects of the games, then we will.”
Parking options for A’s games
Strange also said detailed plans for parking and getting to and from Sutter Health Park can be found on the city’s website. Parking can be reserved ahead of time. Parking in the Green Lot nearest the stadium cost $40. The Gold Lot, which is just beyond right field near the Tower Bridge, goes for $35. The Main Lot costs $30, and spots in the Ziggurat Garage across Cabaldon Parkway on Third Street go for $25.
The pickup and dropoff area for ride sharing apps Uber and Lyft was moved to near the Capital Bowl bowling alley, which is roughly a 10 minute walk from the ballpark. West Sacramento’s Via rideshare program is designed to give locals a convenient and affordable option to get to games.
Additionally, the A’s move comes while the nearest freeway access is under construction. Portions of I-80 between Sacramento and Davis, a stretch which includes West Sacramento, is slated to be under construction until fall 2027. Strange said the city has worked with Caltrans to create traffic plans surrounding the construction.
Options for residents dealing with road closures
Roads surrounding Sutter Health Park will be closed for about 90 minutes as games end — from roughly 30 minutes before the expected end time until one hour after the game ends. That could impact residents who live near the area who use those roads to get to and from their homes.
To help, West Sacramento will send residents two placards per household to addresses within the impacted areas to allow local drivers to bypass road closures. Drivers will have to present their placards to officers in charge of traffic control. More information is available on West Sacramento’s website.
“Honestly, as much as we want to be a good host to Major League Baseball and the River Cats, our residents are here all the time,” Strange said. “They’re our No. 1 priority. And so the work that we’ve done to get creative around how to get them in and out, even during the surges in traffic at the beginning and end of games, I applaud a lot of the city staff that were creative in coming up with the placard idea.”
Staffing security around the ballpark
Larger crowds on a regular basis means more security and uniformed police officers are required. And having 153 combined games requires more staffing overall.
The River Cats, which are owned by the Sacramento Kings and owner Vivek Ranadivé, will be footing the bill for the increased police requirements for A’s and River Cats games, officials said. Security will come from West Sacramento Police Department, Yolo County Police Departments and Sacramento Police Department and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, when warranted.
“It’s an unrelenting schedule of events,” Strange said. “And so we knew early on that we were going to need some assistance. ... I think it shows just good our connections are across our agencies that when something big is going to happen, all hands on deck if we need it.”
This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM.
