River Cats report steady attendance, outline plans for non‑baseball events during A’s tenure at Sutter Health Park

Chip Maxon, president and chief operating officer of the River Cats and River City Stadium Management (RCSM), told the River City Regional Stadium Financing Authority on April 28 that River Cats season‑ticket renewals “surpassed our expectations” after the Oakland A’s announced they would play at Sutter Health Park for the Major League Baseball (MLB) interim season.

Maxon said the River Cats saw about a 10% year‑over‑year increase in attendance in 2024 and that early 2025 turnstile numbers are within about 100 tickets of last year’s figures; accounting for 2024 rainouts, he said the club is roughly 24% ahead year‑over‑year. “What a difference a year makes,” Maxon said, summarizing the team’s trajectory from the prior season to hosting MLB exhibition and regular games this spring.

The River Cats are lowering some ticket prices for their product to preserve family‑friendly value while the A’s — a higher‑priced draw — play at the ballpark, Maxon said. The club is emphasizing group and hospitality sales, with a particular focus on youth sports and schools: the team plans several “Little League nights” expected to draw multiple thousands of attendees and said it is expanding reading and school programming to bring students to games who otherwise could not afford tickets.

Maxon said the club is exploring non‑baseball events, including concerts, but noted the schedule pressure from “50‑plus baseball games” will constrain availability during the A’s tenure. He said stadium parking operations have shifted away from RCSM as a revenue stream, and the organization is working with landowners to identify off‑season and non‑baseball uses. “We’re trying to work with the landowners to understand what other opportunities for concerts and other events can we do in the off season,” Maxon said.

West Sacramento elected officials and city staff raised logistics and safety concerns during the question period. The mayor asked about California Senate Bill 969 (entertainment zones), noting it may allow restaurants and local businesses to participate in coordinated entertainment programming; the mayor offered to provide background materials to staff and pursue further exploration of the concept. The mayor also asked about youth softball inclusion for MLB’s Play Ball weekend and a safe crossing for press and attendees, and Maxon described shuttle and golf‑cart services that the River Cats and broadcasters are using to move people safely between staging areas and the ballpark.

Several councilmembers and city staff thanked the River Cats for community outreach, including ticket donations to local nonprofits and the Roberts Family Development Center. Maxon said the club will continue clinics and youth programming during MLB’s presence and will follow up on coordination with the A’s for shared community events. The presentation was informal and required no action by the financing authority.