Where live sports will return to Sacramento region this week after COVID-19 shutdowns
Live sporting events will return to the Sacramento region this week with no fans in attendance. Live audiences will have to wait as California counties gradually ease coronavirus restrictions across the state.
The Sacramento River Cats and Republic FC are still on hold, but the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox, a collegiate wooden-bat baseball team based in Marysville, announced plans to play their season opener Thursday at Colusa Casino Stadium. All-American Speedway in Roseville will hold a test-and-tune session Saturday. Both events will be held without spectators, organizers said.
The Gold Sox were scheduled to start their season May 21, but Opening Night was postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. General manager Tommy Lininger said the club will play a revised 28-game schedule as part of the seven-week Sierra Central-Montna Farms Summer Series, and all games will be played at the team’s home stadium in Marysville.
Games will not be open to the public for the first week, the team said. A limited number of fans are expected to be admitted to games beginning June 25.
“We want to thank the City of Marysville, Yuba County and Bi-County Health for working so hard to make sure our community could have the Gold Sox this summer,” Lininger said in a news release. “We worked through a plan that allows us to open the season initially without the public, but then transition into allowing the public to attend in limited numbers with extensive COVID-19 protocols.”
Lininger said the team made dramatic changes to its schedule, roster and ballpark operations to bring baseball back to the Yuba-Sutter area.
“We have completely changed our operation to make this summer happen,” Lininger said. “From playing all home games in the Sierra Central-Montna Farms Summer Series, to reworking our roster with primarily local players, to limiting attendance, to our five-page (COVID-19) protocols, we have done everything with the goal of having a season that is safe for the fans, employees and players. We understand and appreciate this will be a different season from years past, but we will be able to provide much needed entertainment after this long lock down.”
All-American Speedway officials said they are also implementing changes leading up to Saturday’s test-and-tune event after local and state officials approved plans to race without spectators. Limited spaces are available for Saturday’s event and preregistration is required.
Practice sessions will run from noon to 4 p.m. Cost is $100 per car and driver. All paperwork must be submitted by Friday to encourage safety and distancing. Organizers said temperatures will be taken upon entry and social distancing will be required. Trucks, trailers and cars will receive pit-stall assignments with a minimum of 12 feet between each team. Pits open at 11 a.m.
All-American Speedway and Bill McAnally Racing Promotions said they hope to have fans in the grandstands as soon as live-audience events are approved.
Republic FC, a USL Championship soccer team, is preparing to return in the weeks ahead. The league’s Board of Governors voted earlier this month to resume the season with a provisional start date set for July 11, but schedules, stadium access and other details have not been finalized.
The Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A River Cats have announced no such plans, but the River Cats are planning a “Father’s Day Catch on the Field” event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Sutter Health Park. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. Each ticket includes a choice of hot dog or sausage, a choice of beer, soda or water, a souvenir baseball and an opportunity to play catch on the field.
Limited reservations are available. Tickets can be purchased at www.milb.com/sacramento/community/fathers-day.
