© Rick Scuteri/Imagn
The MLB team formerly known as the Oakland Athletics is apparently in the business of burning bridges with cities all across California. The A’s are currently in the process of completing a long-anticipated relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. But while the organization waits for a new park in Vegas to be built, it will spend three years in Sacramento playing in a minor league ballpark with a capacity of 14,000.
But don’t you dare call them the Sacramento Athletics. No, despite playing in the city and being welcomed with open arms, the Athletics refuse to bear the name the name of their temporary hosts.
“They wanna be in the city, but don’t wanna use their name…It feels extremely disrespectful” -Padres Broadcast
Game 1 and already opposing teams broadcast are weighing in. This executive FO has made one bad PR move after the next and this was always a puzzling one. #FJF pic.twitter.com/ZVlFhbu40D
— Last Dive Bar 🏟 (@LastDiveBar) February 22, 2025
The Athletics made their Spring Training debut on Sunday against the San Diego Padres, and the Padres broadcast team of Don Orsillo and Mud Grant. made a point to note that they were told not to call the team the Sacramento A’s.
“They are, of course, playing in Sacramento for at minimum the next two or three years,” Orsillo said. “They are done with Oakland (and) theoretically, at least, on their way eventually to Vegas. And they have said that they are not going to refer to themselves as the Sacramento A’s while they are playing in Sacramento … it feels weirdly disrespectful.”
To which Grant. replied “it feels extremely disrespectful …. (they’re) using the city.”
It really shouldn’t come as a surprise. A’s owner Josh Fisher has been using Oakland and Las Vegas throughout this process. So why wouldn’t he use Sacramento as well? But if I were from Sacramento, I’d make it extremely clear that the Athletics are free to leave whenever they so choose.