Full Breakdown
Sacramento Pushes for MLB Expansion
5/28/2026, 8:56:51 PM
Launch of the Expansion Campaign
On May 28, 2026, city officials, business leaders and former players announced a bid for an MLB expansion franchise in Sacramento. The “Sacramento Pitch” group proposes a new ballpark on a 50-acre West Sacramento site next to the Athletics’ temporary home at Sutter Health Park.
Population Growth and A’s Attendance
The Athletics moved to West Sacramento for a three-year interim while their Las Vegas stadium is slated for 2028. In 2026 they averaged 10,676 tickets per game, about 1,200 more than 2025 but still the league’s lowest. The metro area exceeds 590,000 residents, with West Sacramento housing 56,216 (2025 Census).
Stakeholders, Funding and Market Size
Key backer Mark Friedman, chairman of Fulcrum Property, pledged $150 million in land and equity. The coalition reports $800 million in land and investment, $250 million each from United Auburn Indian Community and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and access to $1 billion in financing. An expansion fee of $2.2 billion, floated in 2021, would need a lead investor with billions. The group says Sacramento is the largest U.S. city and TV market without an MLB team.
Official Statements
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the league sees interest across the United States, Canada and Mexico for new franchises. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty called the region “shovel ready” and praised excitement. West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero defended tax-increment financing, noting it borrows against future property-tax growth and does not use the general fund. The Sacramento Pitch group stresses the city’s size advantage.
Economic Skepticism
Economists caution that public subsidies for stadiums rarely deliver net benefits. J.C. Bradbury noted five decades of research showing such projects are “bad public investments.” Critics argue the $1 billion public commitment may not be justified by the Athletics’ modest attendance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The coalition cites $1 billion in accessible public money, yet Mayor Guerrero has not confirmed a formal vote, leaving the financing mechanism uncertain. No lead investor has been secured, and attendance figures lack comparison with other MLB markets, creating ambiguity about market viability.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s true that Sacramento will be perceived as an underdog,” — Mark Friedman, Chairman, Fulcrum Property
- “We’re the biggest city that doesn’t have a team. We’re bigger than half a dozen that do. We’re the largest television market that doesn’t have a team.” — Mark Friedman
- “There’s a lot of markets in the United States — in North America, quite frankly, Canada and Mexico — that would like to have Major League Baseball,” — Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner
- “Economists have been studying the economic benefits of stadiums for five decades, and they consistently find that they are bad public investments,” — J.C. Bradbury, Economist
Next Steps
The coalition aims to secure a lead investor by the end of 2026 and to submit a formal proposal to MLB owners before the league’s 2029 expansion decision. Stadium design and financing details will be refined after the investor is identified.
