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The city of Sacramento has officially begun its quest to have a Major League Baseball team.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has insisted on adding two expansion teams before he steps down from his position in January 2029, and Sacramento, the largest market in the United States without an MLB team, has thrown its hat in 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 near the top 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. (Eakin Howard/MLB Photos 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,” Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, said in a recent interview with Pakinomist 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 think of us that way because California has this outwardly spectacular brand and reputation historically.”
Sacramento has gotten a taste of professional baseball as the Athletics call California’s capital home until they move to Las Vegas in 2028. Broome admitted that the Athletics situation — where Sacramento fandom was about 60% San Francisco Giants and 40% Athletics — helped the city realize it had an opportunity.
This is the proposed site for Sacramento’s MLB stadium. Currently, it houses the Sacramento RiverCats, a Minor League Baseball team. (The Sacramento Pitch)
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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 asked if the Athletics could stay. We had to tell people no — they’re only going to be here for three years while they move to Las Vegas,” Broome said. “But their arrival made the town think that maybe we could have our own team. I think athletics is now benefiting from that.
“Momentum around the team is growing, attendance is up and local enthusiasm is building because people are starting to believe that if we do a lot for athletics, we’re also showing Major League Baseball that Sacramento is ready.”
Areas like Nashville, Austin/San Antonio, Montreal, Charlotte, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh and Salt Lake City have been in the expansion conversation, but Broome believes Sacramento has already proven itself with its “dedicated fan base.”
“We’re a city that has a lot to bring to baseball. . . . Why wouldn’t MLB come into a community that at its heart is a baseball city that has shown success with its minor league sports and its NBA team? Why not come in and capture that incredible media market?” Broome said. “We think Major League Baseball should see it as a can’t-miss opportunity. I think we have the track record to do that, and now we’re on a mission to put ourselves in serious contention for this expansion…
A rendering of Sacramento’s MLB stadium. (The Sacramento Pitch)
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“If we can pair this market with a bona fide elite ownership group, it’s going to be very hard to deny Sacramento’s case.”
