By RONALD BLUM
NEW YORK (AP) — The nomadic Athletics will play residence video games on grass as they transfer from Oakland to Sacramento subsequent season moderately than the bogus turf initially deliberate at Sutter Well being Park.
The group introduced in April 2023 it’ll transfer from Oakland to a brand new ballpark to be in-built Las Vegas and stated this April it meant to play its residence video games in Sacramento from 2025-27 till the brand new stadium in Nevada is constructed. The Sacramento ballpark is also residence to the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A River Cats.
Main League Baseball stated final summer time a man-made turf subject could be put in that might stand up to a schedule of as much as 153 regular-season video games over 186 days. Each day excessive summer time temperatures in Sacramento have reached 115 levels (46 Celsius), in response to the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Main League Baseball Gamers Affiliation expressed concern.
“In light of the players’ clear preference for natural grass, and after weighing with the MLBPA the potential risks and benefits of maintaining natural grass versus replacing the playing surface with synthetic turf, all the parties are aligned in moving forward with a natural grass field for opening day 2025,” MLB stated in an announcement Monday.
MLB stated the choice was made collectively by the commissioner’s workplace, the group and Sutter Well being Park.
“I’m glad it’s going to be grass, for sure,” stated Cleveland supervisor Stephen Vogt, a two-time Oakland All-Star.
The A’s open the house portion of their schedule in opposition to the Chicago Cubs on March 31. Sutter Well being Park has a capability of about 10,500 fastened seats.
Las Vegas would be the fourth long-term residence of the franchise, which was primarily based in Philadelphia from 1901-54 and Kansas Metropolis from 1955-67 earlier than transferring to Oakland.
Murray Prepare dinner, the sphere floor marketing consultant to MLB and the union, assessed the choices and decided a grass floor was viable. Sutter Well being Park, which opened in 2000, has had a grass floor.
A brand new residence clubhouse is being constructed for the A’s that features a locker room, weight room and coaching room. Dugouts will likely be renovated to create more room, bullpens will likely be revamped and a brand new batter’s eye put in after the union raised visibility considerations.
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AP Baseball Author Janie McCauley contributed to this report.
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Initially Printed: October 21, 2024 at 4:05 p.m.
