The Athletics are set to play their first-ever home game in West Sacramento on Monday, March 31, and the team is planning a large celebration for opening day.| PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Excitement builds at Sutter Health Park with new upgradesThe team will call Sutter Health Park home for at least three years while its new arena in Las Vegas is being built. During this time, Sacramento-area baseball fans will be able to enjoy games from both the A’s and the Sacramento River Cats, a Triple-A franchise of the San Francisco Giants. (West Sacramento’s mayor speaks out ahead of the A’s home opener Monday in the video above.)| RELATED READ | A full timeline of everything leading to the moveA week out from opening day, the A’s released plans that include live music, giveaways, and a flyover. Below is what to expect at the first home game, which is against the Chicago Cubs.When do gates open?Gates open to all fans at 5:05 p.m. Each fan will get a green-and-white trucker hat with the new Sacramento jersey patch that the players will wear this season. They will also get a Rickey Henderson rally towel, honoring the team’s greatest player in franchise history.Are lawn seats available?The team said for all 81 home games, 250 lawn seats will be available for a fixed price of $25, including on March 31. Those seats will be made available on the day of each game.Honoring Rickey HendersonAlong with the rally towels, all the players and coaches will wear the No. 24, which was Henderson’s number. Rickey’s three daughters, Angela, Alexis and Adriana, will throw out simultaneous ceremonial first pitches.Sacramento-area artist and performance painter David Garibaldi will create a mural of Henderson.A military flyover on opening dayAs part of MLB opening day tradition, military aircraft will fly over the stadium. This flyover will launch from Beale Air Force Base.Both teams will be on the field for introductions and the national anthem, which will be sung by Shane Q, a Sacramento native who was a top 10 finisher in “The Voice.” Some season ticket members will also hold a 100-foot-by-50-foot American flag in the center of the field.Live musicSan Francisco-based party band The Freshmakers will perform on the ticket plaza while DJ Christie plays outside the right field gate as fans enter the stadium. Following the national anthem, DJ Christie will be inside the ballpark playing through the night.Stadium upgradesPart of the agreement to temporarily house the A’s includes ensuring Sutter Health Park meets MLB standards. Some of those upgrades include improved scoreboards to view instant replays, enhanced lighting and a completely redone field. There is now also a clubhouse that includes a dedicated player training and recovery center.What can you bring to Sutter Health Park?Leave your backpacks at home unless they are clear plastic. A clutch is approved but a purse isn’t. Here’s a full list of what’s allowed and not allowed at the stadium. What to know about parking and tailgating? You should plan to reserve your parking in advance and know that while tailgating is allowed at preferred lots, alcohol isn’t. If you’re planning on street parking instead of preferred lots, know that there is $39 special event rate for parking that exceeds two hours on A’s game days. Click here for a full story on transportation options. Are there any new food options? You can now get a bacon-wrapped hot dog, pastrami fry and garlic knots at A’s games this year. See what else you can eat here. Watch parties Drake’s: The Barn is now open seven days a week to cash in on the A’s playing in West Sacramento. Drake’s will also have an opening day watch party with live music and specials.What’s the forecast? Meteorologist Kelly Curran says there could be some showers before the game starts, around 5 p.m. While an isolated shower can’t be ruled out by the first pitch at 7 p.m., conditions do seem to be dry for most of the game. | FROM THE ARCHIVES | LiveCopter 3 dries the field for Sacramento River Cats’ debut 25 years ago Find ticket information here.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The Athletics are set to play their first-ever home game in West Sacramento on Monday, March 31, and the team is planning a large celebration for opening day.
| PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Excitement builds at Sutter Health Park with new upgrades
The team will call Sutter Health Park home for at least three years while its new arena in Las Vegas is being built. During this time, Sacramento-area baseball fans will be able to enjoy games from both the A’s and the Sacramento River Cats, a Triple-A franchise of the San Francisco Giants. (West Sacramento’s mayor speaks out ahead of the A’s home opener Monday in the video above.)
| RELATED READ | A full timeline of everything leading to the move
A week out from opening day, the A’s released plans that include live music, giveaways, and a flyover. Below is what to expect at the first home game, which is against the Chicago Cubs.
When do gates open?
Gates open to all fans at 5:05 p.m. Each fan will get a green-and-white trucker hat with the new Sacramento jersey patch that the players will wear this season. They will also get a Rickey Henderson rally towel, honoring the team’s greatest player in franchise history.
Are lawn seats available?
The team said for all 81 home games, 250 lawn seats will be available for a fixed price of $25, including on March 31. Those seats will be made available on the day of each game.
Honoring Rickey Henderson
Along with the rally towels, all the players and coaches will wear the No. 24, which was Henderson’s number. Rickey’s three daughters, Angela, Alexis and Adriana, will throw out simultaneous ceremonial first pitches.
Sacramento-area artist and performance painter David Garibaldi will create a mural of Henderson.
A military flyover on opening day
As part of MLB opening day tradition, military aircraft will fly over the stadium. This flyover will launch from Beale Air Force Base.
Both teams will be on the field for introductions and the national anthem, which will be sung by Shane Q, a Sacramento native who was a top 10 finisher in “The Voice.” Some season ticket members will also hold a 100-foot-by-50-foot American flag in the center of the field.
Live music
San Francisco-based party band The Freshmakers will perform on the ticket plaza while DJ Christie plays outside the right field gate as fans enter the stadium. Following the national anthem, DJ Christie will be inside the ballpark playing through the night.
Stadium upgrades
Part of the agreement to temporarily house the A’s includes ensuring Sutter Health Park meets MLB standards. Some of those upgrades include improved scoreboards to view instant replays, enhanced lighting and a completely redone field. There is now also a clubhouse that includes a dedicated player training and recovery center.
What can you bring to Sutter Health Park?
Leave your backpacks at home unless they are clear plastic. A clutch is approved but a purse isn’t. Here’s a full list of what’s allowed and not allowed at the stadium.
What to know about parking and tailgating?
You should plan to reserve your parking in advance and know that while tailgating is allowed at preferred lots, alcohol isn’t.
If you’re planning on street parking instead of preferred lots, know that there is $39 special event rate for parking that exceeds two hours on A’s game days.
Click here for a full story on transportation options.
Are there any new food options?
You can now get a bacon-wrapped hot dog, pastrami fry and garlic knots at A’s games this year. See what else you can eat here.
Watch parties
Drake’s: The Barn is now open seven days a week to cash in on the A’s playing in West Sacramento. Drake’s will also have an opening day watch party with live music and specials.
What’s the forecast?
Meteorologist Kelly Curran says there could be some showers before the game starts, around 5 p.m. While an isolated shower can’t be ruled out by the first pitch at 7 p.m., conditions do seem to be dry for most of the game.
| FROM THE ARCHIVES | LiveCopter 3 dries the field for Sacramento River Cats’ debut 25 years ago
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel