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The city of Sacramento has officially begun its quest to have a Major League Baseball team.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has insisted on adding two expansion teams before retiring from office in January 2029, and Sacramento, the largest U.S. market without an MLB team, has thrown its hat into the ring.
The hometown of MLB legends Dusty Baker and Derrek Lee raised $1.8 billion in just four months for a potential stadium, while its home teams like the NBA’s Kings, USL’s Republic FC and MiLB’s River Cats consistently rank near the top in revenue and attendance in their respective leagues.
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A general view of Sutter Health Park during the game between the Houston Astros and the Athletics in Sacramento, California, on April 3, 2026. (Photos by Eakin Howard/MLB via Getty Images)
“I think it’s a great market for baseball. There’s a rich history and I’m learning a lot about it myself,” said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, in a recent interview with Pak Gazette Digital.
“People don’t talk about us, but we’re a top 20 media market, we’re twice the size of Las Vegas and twice the size of Salt Lake City. I don’t think people think of us that way because historically California has this seemingly spectacular brand and reputation.”
Sacramento has gotten a taste of professional baseball as the A’s call California’s capital home until they move to Las Vegas in 2028. Broome admitted that the A’s situation, with Sacramento fandom made up about 60% San Francisco Giants and 40% A’s, helped the city realize it had an option.
This is the proposed site for Sacramento’s MLB stadium. Currently, it is home to the Sacramento RiverCats, a minor league baseball team. (Sacramento Field)
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“When they came to Sacramento, I think the city was pleasantly surprised. The immediate reaction was, ‘Can we keep them?’ Everyone was excited and asking if the A’s could stay. We’ve had to tell people no, you’re only going to be here for three years while you transition to Las Vegas,” Broome said. “But his arrival made the city start to think that maybe we could have our own team. I think now Atlético is benefiting from that.
“Momentum around the team is growing, attendance is growing and community enthusiasm is growing because people are starting to think that if we do a lot for the A’s, we’re also showing Major League Baseball that Sacramento is ready.”
Areas like Nashville, Austin/San Antonio, Montreal, Charlotte, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh and Salt Lake City have been in the expansion conversation, but Broome believes Sacramento has already proven itself with its “dedicated fan base.”
“We are a city that has a lot to contribute to baseball… Why wouldn’t the MLB come to a community that, at its core, is a baseball city, that has demonstrated success with its minor league sports and its NBA team? Why not come in and capture that incredible media market?” Broome said. “We think Major League Baseball should see this as an opportunity they can’t pass up. I think we have the track record to do it, and now we have the mission to put ourselves in serious contention for this expansion…
A rendering of the Sacramento MLB stadium. (Sacramento Field)
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“If we can tie this market to a bona fide elite ownership group, it will be very difficult to deny Sacramento’s case.”
