Sutter Health Park

Sutter Health Park is the home ballpark of the Sacramento River Cats Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League. Known as Raley Field from 2000 to 2019, the facility was built on the site of old warehouses and rail yards in West Sacramento, California, across the Sacramento River from the California State Capitol. It is directly adjacent to downtown Sacramento.

Sutter Health Park
Sutter Health Park in 2007
Former namesRaley Field (2000–2019)
Location400 Ballpark Drive
West Sacramento, California
United States
Coordinates38°34′49.34″N 121°30′49.68″W
Public transit Sacramento Valley Station
7th & Capitol (southbound)
8th & Capitol (northbound)
OwnerRiver City Stadium Management, LLC[1]
OperatorRiver City Stadium Management, LLC
Capacity10,624 (Fixed Seats)
14,014 (Lawn + Standing Room)
Field sizeLeft field: 330 feet (101 m)
Center field: 403 feet (123 m)
Right field: 325 feet (99 m)
Backstop: 58 feet (18 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundOctober 28, 1999[2]
OpenedMay 15, 2000
Construction cost$46.5 million
($69 million in 2019 dollars[3])
ArchitectHNTB[1]
Project managerCordell Corp.[4]
Services engineerFrank M. Booth, Inc.[5]
General contractorJR Roberts Corporation[6]
Tenants
Sacramento River Cats (PCL) 2000–present
Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL) 2012
Sacramento State Hornets (NCAA) 2013–present, Occasional

History

The $46.5 million stadium was built in eight-and-a-half months, but extended periods of bad weather forced the River Cats on a season-opening one month-long road trip, as completion was delayed 45 days. The completion time however was estimated to be about two years. The home opener was played on May 15, 2000.

The stadium is one of the few professional sports facilities in the nation built without a public sector contribution. Although constructed using bonds financed by the River City Stadium Financing Authority, bond payments are paid from ticket, concession, advertising, and other revenues, not taxes. Because the $46.5 million project cost was too large for the host city to finance, Christopher Cabaldon, in his first term as Mayor of West Sacramento, recruited Sacramento County and Yolo County to join his city in a joint-powers agency which became the stadium financing authority. Because of the success of the stadium, its private revenue sources have been more than sufficient to repay the construction bonds and build a bond reserve.

The stadium has 10,624 permanent seats and grass berms in both right and left field for a total capacity of 14,014.[7] Its original capacity was 14,611 and was decreased to 14,414 in 2005 with the addition of a party deck. It further decreased in 2010 with the opening of the Diamond Club behind home plate.[8] The stadium has 2,798 club seats and 750 seats in 36 suites.[8]

The naming rights for the facility were sold to Raley's, a regional chain of supermarkets which is also based in West Sacramento, for $15 million over 20 years. The stadium was not designed with expansion in mind; therefore, if a major league ballclub ever moved to Sacramento there would be significant work required.[9]

The ballpark hosted the 2005 Triple-A All-Star Game in which the Pacific Coast League All-Stars defeated the International League All-Stars, 11–5.[10]

There was discussion of the Sacramento Mountain Lions, an American football team in the United Football League, using the field during the 2012 season.[11] A final agreement to this effect was announced on August 6, 2012.[12] The UFL, including the Mountain Lions, abruptly shut down operations in the middle of the 2012 season.

On July 18, 2013, Raley Field hosted a soccer match, a friendly featuring Mexican side Dorados de Sinaloa and Premier League side Norwich City F.C.[13] The game finished 3–0 to Norwich, with goals from Luciano Becchio, Anthony Pilkington and Josh Murphy. The match's attendance was 14,014.[14]

As part of the Golden State Hockey Rush, Raley Field hosted a minor league hockey game between the Stockton Heat and the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League on December 18, 2015.[15]

The ballpark was renamed Sutter Health Park before the 2020 season as part of a naming rights agreement with Sacramento-based Sutter Health.[16]

  • View of the city skyline from the grandstand
  • Entrance during the day
  • Entrance during the night
  • Entrance with new sign

References
  1. "Pacific Coast League". Ballparks.com. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  2. "Ballpark Beginnings". The Sacramento Bee. October 29, 1999. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  3. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  4. Parker, Clifton B. (May 26, 2000). "Raley Field: Sacramento's New Baseball Field". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  5. "Raley Field". Frank M. Booth. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  6. "Parex Steps Up To The Plate At Sacramento's New Raley Field". Design Cost Data. March 1, 2002. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  7. Knight, Graham; Smight, Tim (April 1, 2010). "10 Great Places for a Baseball Pilgrimage". USA Today. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  8. "2015 Sacramento River Cats Media Guide" (PDF). Minor League Baseball. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  9. Layer, Marine (March 7, 2009). "How to Expand a Minor League Park". New Ballpark. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  10. "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (2003–2007)". Triple-A Baseball. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  11. Tonsall, Sonseeahray (July 17, 2012). "Sign of Things To Come: Another Team Playing At Raley Field". KTXL. Sacramento. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  12. Johnson, Kelly (August 6, 2012). "It's Official: Mountain Lions Will Play Football at Baseball Stadium". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  13. Breton, Marcos (July 16, 2013). "Time Has Come for An MLS Team in Sacramento". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  14. Goyette, Jared (July 19, 2013). "Meeting Republic F.C. and What We Learned From Sacramento Soccer Day". Sacramento Press. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  15. "Oilers', Flames' AHL affiliates to play outdoor game". NHL.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  16. "River Cats' Home to Become Sutter Health Park". Ballpark Digest. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
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