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The city of Sacramento has officially begun its quest to have a Major League Baseball team.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred pushed to add two expansion teams before retiring from his post in January 2029, and Sacramento, the largest market in the United States 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 local teams like the NBA’s Kings, USL’s Republic FC and MiLB’s River Cats consistently rank high 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 PK Press Club 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 see us that way because California historically has this outwardly spectacular brand and reputation.”
Sacramento got a taste of professional baseball as the Athletics called the California capital home until moving to Las Vegas in 2028. Broome admitted that the Athletics situation — with Sacramento’s fandom being about 60 percent San Francisco Giants and 40 percent Athletics — helped the city realize it had an option.
This is the proposed site for MLB Stadium in Sacramento. 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 wondering if Athletics could stay. We’ve had to tell people no: They’ll only be here three years while they transition to Las Vegas,” Broome said. “But their arrival got the city thinking maybe we could have our own team. I think the Athletics are benefiting from that now.
“Momentum around the team is growing, attendance is increasing and community enthusiasm is growing because people are starting to think that if we do a lot for athletics, we are also demonstrating to Major League Baseball that Sacramento is ready.”
Areas like Nashville, Austin/San Antonio, Montreal, Charlotte, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh and Salt Lake City have been involved in expansion discussions, but Broome believes Sacramento already has a proven track record with its “dedicated fan base.”
“We are a city that has a lot to offer in baseball…Why wouldn’t MLB come to a community that, at its heart, is a baseball town, that has demonstrated success with its minor league sports and its NBA team? Why not come and capture this incredible media market?” » Broome said. “We think Major League Baseball should view this as an opportunity that should not be passed up. I think we have the track record to do it, and now we have a mission to put ourselves in serious contention for this expansion…
A rendering of the MLB stadium in Sacramento. (Sacramento Field)
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“If we can associate this market with a truly elite ownership group, it becomes very difficult to deny the case for Sacramento.”
