Sacramento just went all-in. On Thursday, city leaders and West Sacramento officials made their pitch for something the Capital City hasn’t had in over a century: a Major League Baseball team. And they’re not showing up empty-handed.
The Sacramento Pitch campaign—a coordinated bid led by Mark Friedman of Fulcrum Property Group, Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, and West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero—has already locked down $1.8 billion in public and private investments. That’s serious money, and it signals serious intent. The proposed ballpark would anchor a 50-acre mixed-use development in West Sacramento’s Bridge District, the same area where the Oakland Athletics currently play but will vacate before the 2028 season. The timing feels almost scripted.
What makes Sacramento’s bid genuinely competitive, according to national baseball reporter Maury Brown, is something most other contending cities lack: ready-to-go land. The property is already entitled and prepared for development. That’s a massive advantage in a race where cities like Portland and Salt Lake City (considered a frontrunner) have been grinding on their proposals for years. Sacramento’s got the infrastructure, the local ownership backing, and the financing framework already in place. Mark Friedman was clear on this point:“We spent the last year working quietly behind the scenes to build the partnerships, the investments, and the long-term vision in order to compete effectively for an expansion franchise.”
The ownership group is impressive—it includes Greater Sacramento Economic Council President and CEO Barry Broome, Visit Sacramento CEO Mike Testa, World Series Champion Dusty Baker, Sacramento Kings COO Matina Kolokotronis, and notably, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community, whose members chair the effort. Friedman emphasized the weight of that partnership:“Their investment is not simply a financial transaction, but it’s a recognition of their history, because Sacramento is not just their hometown, it’s their homeland.”That’s the kind of deep community backing MLB will be looking for.
Here’s the catch: baseball is still a ways off. MLB hasn’t even announced an expansion committee yet. Commissioner Rob Manfred’s timeline suggests a vote before his 2029 retirement, but ballparks wouldn’t actually open until around 2033 at the earliest. And Sacramento will be competing against multiple cities. Still, having the Athletics already in town—and watching fans show up to games—is an edge. As Mayor McCarty pointed out,“That’s one thing that we have the other cities don’t, we have an MLB team here today.”Dusty Baker, himself a Sacramento-area native, summed it up simply:“It’s a good city, we got a good downtown, we got area of space; it’s growing.”The foundation is laid. Now Sacramento waits.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
