Sacramento is the front-runner to host the A's from 2025-27 before they move to Las Vegas, a person familiar with the team's search process said. The athlete Friday.
Salt Lake City and a return to the Oakland Coliseum are the other two remaining possibilities for a temporary home, the person said. The decision is expected to be issued within weeks, not months.
The A's and the city of Oakland met Thursday to discuss the possibility of the A's remaining in the city through 2027.
“We had a constructive and positive meeting with the city of Oakland and Alameda County and were focused on continuing conversations about extending the lease at the Coliseum,” an A’s spokesperson said.
However, a return to the Coliseum is still viewed as a “tough road,” the person familiar with the search said, considering how chaotic the team's planned exit from Auckland was.
From the club's perspective, staying in Oakland has one major benefit: It will allow the team to keep the TV money already contractually owed to NBC Sports California.
The move to Sacramento may also allow franchisees to keep a significant portion of the money they are owed, the person said. Exactly how much can be a subject of negotiation. Even if the A's are technically outside the region outlined in their TV deal, NBC Sports California already carries another Sacramento team, the Kings. A spokesperson for NBC Sports California declined to comment.
On the other hand, moving to Salt Lake City could mean you're starting from scratch when it comes to TV revenue.
Sutter Health Park in Sacramento is home to the Triple-A River Cats, a Giants affiliate, and seats more than 14,000.
(Top photo of Sutter Health Park: Kirby Lee via AP)
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