Toronto Blue Jays at Athletics - July 11-12, 2025

The saga of the Oakland Athletics under owner John Fisher has reached its nadir as the team has moved to Sacramento for three seasons while their new ballpark in Las Vegas is being built. They now play in a minor league stadium in front of 8,000 fans, many of whom are cheering for the visiting team. It's embarrassing for Fisher, and MLB should be ashamed for letting it happen. To be fair, the Oakland Coliseum was not a long term solution, but it is sad that the glitter of Vegas won over keeping the team in the Bay Area. Still, politics is not my concern as I want to see the Blue Jays in every road stadium and this would be the last one left, at least until 2028. Their only trip was scheduled for the final weekend before the All-Star break, so I headed out midweek and spent four days in Sacramento, attending the first two games of the series at Sutter Health Park.

I visited the stadium in 2011 when it was Raley Field and saw a couple of Sacramento River Cats games when they hosted the Las Vegas 51s, at the time Toronto's AAA affiliate. Brett Lawrie was the most recognizable name in those games, which shows you just how long ago it was. This time, I stayed downtown and walked ten minutes to the ballpark, passing over the iconic Tower Bridge, which is visible in the photo below.

Tickets start at $25 for lawn "seats", but you have to sign up for a text service and every morning these seats are released via a link sent by SMS to your phone. What surprised me is that remaining normal seats were also sold at a significant discount, so this is definitely worth doing. Still, I found the secondary market was cheaper and had more options, so I chose that each time.

After walking over the bridge, you enter via the Right Field Gate (above), with no waiting as there are so few fans. Upon entering, you will find yourself next to the aforementioned lawn (below), which is in the sun for the early part of the game.

The picture below was taken about an hour before game time, so by about the third inning, the sun has gone behind the large casino sign atop the roof that reminds you to "Catch the Excitement".



The poles along the concourse are still decorated with art made by children back when the stadium opened in 2000. Many of these young artists probably have kids of their own now and it must be fun to revisit the stadium and show their work to their offspring.

The stadium is still perfectly fine as a minor league ballpark (the River Cats play when the Athletics are on the road, so no doubleheaders are possible), but it is obviously not up to major league standards. Most notably is the Solon Club, an outdoor premium seating area above first base. I attended a game against the Braves and was able to purchase a ticket for $34, about 85% off the $220 list price. There is no bigger rip off in baseball than that, as the tiny club is in the sun for the first few innings, and the food offerings are limited to hot dogs, brats, links, iceberg lettuce wedges, and fresh fruit. Beer and wine are free, but you'd have to have 15 of them to get your money's worth. 

There are also suites at this level, though obviously not open to the general public. Friends did sit in a suite for one game back in April and said that it was a good experience, though at $300 a pop, also overpriced.

The seating bowl is typical for AAA parks, with about 30 rows of sunbeaten green seats in each section. Around home plate, there are only a few seats in each row, but as you move up and towards the outfield, the rows get quite long. Seating capacity is 10,624 with room for 3,390 more on the lawn and standing. The team has yet to sell out and is averaging 9,781, about 71 fans less than Tampa in their own minor league stadium. Embarrassing, but then again, why would you invest time as a local resident if the team is going to leave in a couple of years? They aren't even bothering to use Sacramento in the name, going only by Athletics. 

The concourse does get crowded, but I had no trouble with concession lines and do recommend the hot dog, which is one of the best out there.

The casino sign is used mostly to block the sun from the seats behind the plate. An afternoon game here would be tough in the middle of the summer.

A rarity at a major league ballpark: the starting lineup written in marker. Note the Jays surprisingly good record as they are in first place in the A.L. East at the break.



Looking back from the third base side gives you a good idea of the stadium structure.



Retired numbers can be found along the concourse past third base, near a beer garden that is open to the public.

Meanwhile, a banner celebrating the team's nine titles is on a wall behind the outfield fence. My, how the mighty have fallen.

The club area is reached by two staircases and the one next to third base has a small display on the history of baseball in the area, with special attention paid to the Sacramento Solons, a name given to several minor league squads over the past century. If you ask politely, you should be allowed up to have a look, there is also a bobblehead collection on the top shelf.

Overall, Sutter Health Park is still a fine stadium for AAA ball, but far too small to host a major league team. Still, that does give you a chance to see the big club in cozy conditions for far less than at a major league stadium, so there is some upside, as long as you were not a fan of the Oakland Athletics. 

The Games

The first game saw Max Scherzer (below) making just his fifth start for Toronto, still without a decision, while Luis Severino took the hill for the Athletics. In the fourth, the Jays loaded the bases on a Bo Bichette double, a walk to Alejandro Kirk, and a Will Wagner HBP. Ernie Clement followed with a sac fly and it was 1-0.

In the next frame, George Springer reached on an error and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled for his 1,000th career hit, sending Springer to third. With two out, Guerrero stole second and Springer went for home on the throw down. The throw back was in time but Shea Langeliers could not hold on and the double steal was successful. Addison Barger singled Vladdy to third and then stole second himself before Kirk knocked both in with a single of his own. Jack Perkins relieved Severino and hit Wagner (again) and walked Clement to load the bases. Myles Straw singled home Kirk and then Nathan Lukes, who struck out to start the inning, doubled home two more. These runs were unearned to the team but charged to Perkins, something you don't see that often.

Up 7-0 in the 6th, Scherzer gave up two bombs: a solo shot to Nick Kurtz and a 2-run blast to Nick Soderstrom. He was taken out and the bullpen got to the ninth still up 7-3, only for Jeff Hoffman to allow three runs. Kurtz came up as the winning run but thankfully he struck out and the Jays held on, barely.

My seat was just four rows behind their dugout, so I did get to capture the handshakes after the game.

The next night, the Jays lost 4-3 and you don't need to know the details. I left a bit early and flew back overnight, thankfully missing Sunday's game. That was another loss, highlighted by manager John Schneider going ballistic over a possible homer called foul (Davis Schneider homered on the very next pitch), which was all that dumb Jays fans could talk about online, rather than the actual result. Losing 2 of 3 to one of the worst teams in baseball does not bode well for the second half. 

Notes

If you are looking for a place to enjoy a pregame meal, try Fanny Ann's Saloon in Old Sacramento. It has a great atmosphere and an excellent burger. Show them a game ticket and you get 20% off food and drink too.

The Jays are now 46-48 in the road games I count with the overall Toronto on the Road record (including the Leafs, Raptors, Toronto FC, and the now folded Arrows) 75-71-5.

Next Up

I'm heading to Brockton to complete the Frontier League and finish my summer travels. Check back for a recap next week.

Best,

Sean