Sacramento’s push for MLB expansion continues to gain traction, with regional leaders publicly outlining a vision to bring a permanent Major League Baseball team to California’s capital.
During a recent interview on Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero emphasized collaboration, momentum, and opportunity as the city positions itself in the growing expansion conversation.
“We’re working together with a coalition of businesses and interested people that want to see this happen,” Guerrero said. “We don’t have anything set yet, but we want to make it happen here in West Sacramento.”
(Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
More on Sacramento’s MLB Expansion hopes
The Athletics are entering their second season in 2026 at Sutter Health Park, giving Sacramento and West Sacramento a live, multi-year showcase to prove they can support Major League Baseball.
With the team scheduled to depart for Las Vegas after the 2027 season, local leaders are focused on ensuring the region remains in the league’s long-term plans.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty recently announced that the city is developing a plan to keep baseball in the capital city beyond the Athletics’ temporary stay, reinforcing the urgency of the MLB expansion effort.
Guerrero pointed to infrastructure, corporate backing, and fan engagement as critical factors in positioning the region for MLB expansion.
“What we need to do is make sure that we have a strong venue here to have a major league baseball team presence,” she said. “We’re working to establish corporate sponsorships… and we’re also working really hard to increase attendance.”
Those priorities align closely with what Major League Baseball looks for in expansion markets. Guerrero also highlighted Sacramento’s media landscape as a key advantage.
“We have an excellent media presence, which is a huge element in Major League Baseball,” she said, pointing to the region’s ability to generate visibility and sustained interest.
The Athletics’ presence has already begun to strengthen ties within the community. “We are growing closer together,” Guerrero said. “The community is really excited about it… and we’re looking forward to building that momentum here in Sutter Health Park.”
(Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images)
Sacramento faces competition from more established MLB expansion hopefuls like Nashville, Portland, and Salt Lake City, but the region’s ability to showcase real-time demand could be a difference-maker.
“That opportunity for us… to demonstrate that there is an increased demand here for a major league baseball team is huge,” Guerrero explained. “We are a baseball region… and we’re going to show that.”
Beyond baseball, the broader growth of Sacramento and West Sacramento is strengthening the bid. Guerrero pointed to an influx of businesses, new entertainment options, and future housing developments along the riverfront as indicators of a rising market.
“We have seen more businesses come and settle in… more amenities grow out here,” she said. “They see the ability to draw more people in.”
A formal update on Sacramento’s MLB expansion pursuit is expected in May, when regional leaders plan to present a unified vision.
“We are going to come in as a major region, bringing in all the cities and counties in partnership for this process,” Guerrero said.
Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
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