{"id":289879,"date":"2026-04-28T15:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/289879\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T15:56:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:56:14","slug":"former-as-owner-thinks-sacramento-can-make-expansion-push","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/289879\/","title":{"rendered":"Former A’s owner thinks Sacramento can make expansion push"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is Sacramento ready to make a push for MLB expansion?<\/p>\n

Former Athletics owner Lew Wolff is stepping back into the spotlight with his new book Moments, a reflection on the high-stakes decisions that shaped his decades-long career across real estate, hospitality, and Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n

In a candid interview on Sactown Sports\u2019 The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross<\/a>, Wolff offered insight not only into his time with the then-Oakland Athletics\u00a0but also into the ongoing conversation surrounding baseball\u2019s future in Sacramento.<\/p>\n

The 90-year-old was co-owner and Managing Partner of the Athletics from 2005 to 2016 before selling his remaining interest to John Fisher and the rest of the A\u2019s owners.<\/p>\n

Wolff said the motivation behind writing Moments was simple: to ensure his decade with the A\u2019s \u201cdidn\u2019t go unnoticed.\u201d But it\u2019s also a chance to push back on a narrative he believes has been misunderstood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really tried hard to stay in Oakland,\u201d Wolff said, noting that a lack of cooperation and urgency from local leadership ultimately stalled progress.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA \u2013 SEPTEMBER 26: A general view of the stadium signs before the Oakland Athletics play the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on September 26, 2024 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Eakin Howard\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

According to him, ownership wasn\u2019t seeking public funding, but rather a workable process to move stadium plans forward\u2014something that never materialized. The Athletics relocated from Oakland following the 2024 season.<\/p>\n

Could Sacramento make a push for MLB expansion?<\/p>\n

That frustration, he suggests, contributed to the A\u2019s long and complicated relocation saga\u2014one that has now temporarily brought the franchise to Sacramento. While the team is expected to eventually land in Las Vegas, the current stop in California\u2019s capital has reignited conversations about expansion.<\/p>\n

Wolff didn\u2019t dismiss Sacramento\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n

\u201cSacramento certainly should be in the mix,\u201d he said, pointing to the region\u2019s population and strong fan support, particularly for the Sacramento Kings. But he also made clear what separates hopeful markets from actual expansion cities: money. \u201cYou need a very wealthy group to build a ballpark and pay the franchise fee.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a blunt but realistic assessment\u2014and one that echoes across Major League Baseball expansion discussions. Cities like Portland and Nashville are often mentioned alongside Sacramento, but as Wolff emphasized, financial backing is the ultimate deciding factor.<\/p>\n

\"SACRAMENTO,<\/p>\n

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA \u2013 AUGUST 01: A general view of Sutter Health Park before a game between the Athletics and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Sutter Health Park on August 01, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Beyond stadium politics and territorial disputes\u2014including his well-documented frustrations with the San Francisco Giants over South Bay rights\u2014Wolff\u2019s book dives into the broader philosophy of decision-making.<\/p>\n

He highlights how many pivotal moments in business and sports happen without perfect information, requiring instinct and timing rather than hindsight clarity.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most telling, though, was Wolff\u2019s perspective on fans. Despite the business complexities, he says the game\u2019s core remains simple: people show up to enjoy themselves. \u201cThey were there to have a good time,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s sort of the magic.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Sacramento, that magic is already present. Whether it becomes permanent may depend on whether the right ownership group steps forward to turn possibility into reality.<\/p>\n

Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the\u00a0Sactown Sports YouTube channel.<\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to\u00a0The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross\u00a0from 6 \u2013 10 a.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, on\u00a0Sactown Sports 1140.<\/a><\/p>\n

More MLB content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n

Upcoming Athletics 2026 Schedule<\/p>\n

Tuesday, April 28th \u2013 Thursday, April 30th\u00a0vs. Kansas City Royals
\nFriday, May 1st \u2013 Sunday, May 3rd\u00a0vs. Cleveland Guardians
\nTuesday, May 5th \u2013 Thursday, May 7th\u00a0@ Philadelphia Phillies
\nFriday, May 8th \u2013 Sunday, May 10th \u2013 @ Baltimore Orioles
\nTuesday, May 12th \u2013 Thursday, May 14th \u2013 vs. St. Louis Cardinals<\/p>\n

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