USA

Sacramento raises $1.8 billion for stadium in MLB expansion team bid

Sacramento raises .8 billion for stadium in MLB expansion team bid

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The city of Sacramento has officially begun its quest to form a Major League Baseball team.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has insisted on adding two expansion teams before leaving office 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 for a potential stadium in just four months; Local teams such as NBA’s Kings, USL’s Republic FC and MiLB’s River Cats consistently rank high in revenue and attendance in their leagues.

CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM

A general view of Sutter Health Park during a game between the Houston Astros and Athletics on April 3, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (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,” Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

“People don’t talk about us, but we’re a top 20 media market; twice the size of Las Vegas, twice the size of Salt Lake City. I don’t think people think of us that way because California has historically had a seemingly amazing brand and reputation.”

Sacramento has gotten a taste of professional baseball as the Athletics call California’s capital home until relocating to Las Vegas in 2028. Broome admitted that the Athletics situation (Sacramento fandom was about 60% San Francisco Giants and 40% Athletics) helped him realize the city had an option.

This is the proposed location for Sacramento’s MLB stadium. Currently, he owns the Sacramento RiverCats, a Minor League Baseball team. (Sacramento Field)

JAZZ CHISHOLM JR. SAYS YANKEES WILL ‘DEFINITELY’ WIN THE WORLD SERIES THIS SEASON ON NIGHT TV

“When they came to Sacramento, I think the town was pleasantly surprised. The immediate reaction was: ‘Can we keep them?’ Everyone was excited and asking if Athletics could stay. Broome, we had to tell people no; “They will only stay here for three years while they move to Las Vegas,” he said. “But their arrival started to make people think that maybe we could start our own team in the town. I think Athletics is benefiting from that now.

“Momentum around the team is building, attendance is growing, and the enthusiasm of the community is growing because people are starting to think that if we do a lot for the Athletics, we’re going to show Major League Baseball that Sacramento is ready, too.”

Areas such as Nashville, Austin/San Antonio, Montreal, Charlotte, Orlando, Portland, Raleigh and Salt Lake City are in expansion talks, but Broome believes Sacramento has already proven itself with its “dedicated fan base.”

“We’re a town that has a lot to bring to baseball… Why wouldn’t MLB come to a community that is essentially a baseball town, that has had success with minor league sports and an NBA team? Why not come in and capture that incredible media market?” Broome said. “We think Major League Baseball should see this as an opportunity it can’t pass up. I think we have the track record to do it, and now we’re on a mission to put ourselves in serious contention for this expansion…