![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.comstocksmag.com\/sites\/main\/files\/imagecache\/lightbox\/main-images\/2-may_28_2026mlb_sac_pitch_photos_0.png\" "\\"The")
<\/a><\/p>\n\n The May 28 packed news conference at Drakes: The Barn was packed.
\n (Photo by Steve Martarano)\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Making the pitch<\/p>\n
\n The Sacramento Pitch campaign is supported with nearly $2 billion
\n in public-private funding, including $800 million in land and
\n private investment from developer Mark Friedman, and the Shingle
\n Springs Band of Miwok Indians and United Auburn Indian Community.
\n Also, around $1 billion in expected investment was pledged from
\n the City of West Sacramento through a combination of tax
\n increment financing, existing hotel taxes and additional sources.
\n West Sacramento\u2019s stake would be generated through activity in
\n the ballpark district and would not impact the city\u2019s general
\n fund or require a taxpayer vote, officials say.\n<\/p>\n
\n \n A rendering of the new ballpark, along with Bridge District \n The campaign is led by former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg \n \n Two local Sacramento-area baseball legends, Dusty Baker and \n \u201cA year ago, Martha (Guerrero) and I were invited to throw out a \n Officials point out that the Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto media \n \n West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero, who is also the honorary \n Looking to take advantage of Sacramento\u2019s temporary A\u2019s residency The A\u2019s power<\/p>\n \n The Athletics\u2019 first season in West Sacramento in 2025 drew a \n The new branding efforts have seemed to have a positive effect. \n \n \u201cWe\u2019re reaching out to community groups through our local city \n \u201cWe\u2019re reaching out to community groups through our local city \n \u00a0\u201cThe initiative is like, hey, let\u2019s prove to Major League \n \n Athletics players take the field before the sold out May 31 game \n Mayor Guerrero said they immediately included two of the \n \u201cVery early on, we made sure Mike was included in meetings with A long shot?<\/p>\n \n While the campaign admits the $2 billion already accrued won\u2019t be \n SRFC, however, is still moving forward and currently building a<\/a><\/p>\n
\n waterfront mixed-use development, that will go on a 50-acre
\n parcel in West Sacramento near Sutter Health Park should the
\n region get a bid when the 30-team MLB is scheduled to add two
\n franchises by 2029. (Courtesy rendering)\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n and co-chaired by West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero and
\n McCarty. Other key partners include local business leaders, and
\n labor unions. The steering committee includes Chair Friedman,
\n founder and chairman of Fulcrum Property Group; Barry Broome,
\n president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council;
\n Regina Cueller, chairwoman, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok
\n Indians; former MLB players and Sacramento natives Dusty Baker
\n and Derrek Lee; West Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem District 4 Verna
\n Sulpizio Hull; Sacramento Kings COO Matina Kolokotronis; Kevin
\n McClatchy, chairman of McClatchy and the former owner of the
\n Pittsburgh Pirates; Mike Testa, president and CEO of Visit
\n Sacramento; and John Williams, chairman, United Auburn Indian
\n Community.\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Derrek Lee, at the May 28 news conference offering their support
\n of the Capital Region\u2019s pursuit of a MLB expansion team. (Photo
\n by Steve Martarano)\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n first pitch at an A\u2019s game, and we started thinking,\u201d McCarty
\n says. \u201cThe A\u2019s are here in Sacramento; wouldn\u2019t it be amazing if
\n one day we could compete for an expansion team? We knew, like all
\n of you, it would be hard with three teams in Northern California,
\n but with the A\u2019s in transition to a new home in Las Vegas, we
\n thought, hey, this is our opportunity, this is our chance.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n market is defined by Nielsen as the 20th largest in the United
\n States, and is the most underserved major league market in the
\n country, with just one major professional team (the NBA Kings).
\n The market reaches an audience of approximately 1.55 million
\n television homes,spanning 16 counties across Northern and Central
\n California. There are seven media markets currently with MLB
\n teams smaller than Sacramento.\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n co-chair of The Sacramento Pitch campaign, at the May 28 news
\n conference. (Photo by Steve Martarano)\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n is a grassroots effort of around 100 members \u2014 many who have been
\n involved with other issues over the years such as helping keep
\n the Kings in Sacramento \u2014 who are actively trying to get fans to
\n attend games to show that Sacramento can support a MLB franchise.\n<\/p>\n
\n disappointing average of 9,500 fans per game while the front
\n office was criticized for not better embracing the city. This
\n year has been different in the \u201cSacramento\u201d branding department,
\n however, with clothing, hats and other memorabilia readily
\n available, both at the ballpark and online. During each of 13
\n season-long \u201cSacramento Saturday\u201d promotional days, each Saturday
\n game will feature a giveaway item, while A\u2019s team members that
\n day will wear bright gold jerseys emblazoned with \u201cSacramento\u201d in
\n green script.\n<\/p>\n
\n Through 28 home dates, the A\u2019s, through the May 28-31 sold out
\n three-game homestand against the New York Yankees, already have
\n had 12 sellouts, compared to seven all of last year, and are
\n drawing an average of 10,820 fans per game, as the A\u2019s have
\n stayed at or near the top of the American League West Division
\n despite having a record around the .500 mark.\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n council members in Sacramento, and we\u2019re encouraging the
\n community groups to come out to a ball game,\u201d John Fingarson, one
\n of the Rivercities Initiative organizers, said. (Photo by Steve
\n Martarano)\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n council members in Sacramento, and we\u2019re encouraging the
\n community groups to come out to a ball game \u2014 River Cats, A\u2019s,
\n whatever it might be \u2014 trying to get people\u2019s cheeks in the
\n seats,\u201d John Fingarson, one of the group\u2019s organizers, says after
\n the press conference wearing the group\u2019s emblazoned hat and
\n \u201cRivercities Initiative\u201d t-shirt.\n<\/p>\n
\n Baseball that we are major league ready. We\u2019re proud to get Major
\n League Baseball to Sacramento,\u201d Fingarson says. \u201cJust like a
\n baseball field, it\u2019s all grass, grassroots, that\u2019s what\u2019s going
\n to win this for us.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n at Sutter Health Park against the New York Yankees. (Photo by
\n Steve Martarano)\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n initiative\u2019s founders, Mike Tavares \u2013 whose \u201cCrown Downtown\u201d
\n group was pivotal with keeping the Kings in Sacramento \u2013 and Matt
\n McDonald.\n<\/p>\n
\n all of our city leadership,\u201d Guerrero says after the news
\n conference.\u00a0 \u201cHe organized here with Matt, who also reached
\n out to me, and they want to be able to have a seat at the table
\n in the planning of the future. But you know more than that, they
\n want to be in City Hall to provide that momentum and that strong
\n support, like they did for the Kings.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n near enough needed to secure a MLB team, it continues to seek a
\n key outside funding source that would pay the expansion fee,
\n expected to be at least upwards from $2 billion, and help build
\n the ballpark \u2013 a situation similar to what Sacramento Republic FC
\n is facing, but on a much larger scale. SRFC received a Major
\n League Soccer bid in 2019 only to have major funder Ron Burkle
\n pull out in early 2021.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n new 20,000-seat stadium in the Railyard District. The team
\n recently unveiled what the luxury boxes will look like at the new
\n stadium and are already taking orders for reservations for the 12
\n \u201cfield suites\u201d and 15 \u201cexecutive suites.\u201d\n<\/p>\n