Field of Dreams
Build it, and they will come. On March 31—after decades of trying to land a Major League Baseball team—Sacramento finally got its civic wish when the Athletics played their first home opener at the newly renovated Sutter Health Park. The team may have lost the game to the Chicago Cubs, but fans packed every corner of the stadium for a chance to witness history and, of course, to root, root, root for the home team.
Sacramento native Shane Q (pictured on the jumbotron and below home plate), a top 10 finisher on The Voice in 2019, sings the national anthem to kick off Opening Day. The A’s, lined up along the third base line, all wore No. 24 jerseys in honor of the late A’s great and Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, who died on Dec. 20, 2024.
Commemorative hats featuring a likeness of the Tower Bridge were handed out to fans as they entered the stadium on Opening Day.
A young fan enters Sutter Health Park sporting a hat modeled on Stomper, the beloved elephant that has served as the A’s mascot since 1997.
A’s rookie second baseman Max Muncy tags out fellow rookie Matt Shaw of the Chicago Cubs.
Jason Frieze of West Sacramento cheers on the A’s on Opening Day.
Declan Hoffman, 12, of West Sacramento awaits the start of the game.
Fans attempt to catch a baseball during warm-ups.
Danielle Mydlo and Ernesto Banuelos, Cubs fans who live in Sacramento, take in the game from the lawn area near right field.
