A's prepare for emotional goodbye to Coliseum

This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DETROIT -- When the A’s convened inside the Hohokam Stadium clubhouse in Arizona for Day 1 of Spring Training, manager Mark Kotsay addressed the uncertainty around where the team would be playing beyond 2024 and how not to let it become a distraction by focusing strictly on baseball.

That situation is finally resolved. On Thursday, the A’s announced that Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento will be their home for the 2025-27 seasons before their planned relocation to a new ballpark in Las Vegas that is expected to be ready for play by January 2028.

In some ways, the news provides some peace of mind for the A’s, in that they will no longer have to ponder the unanswered question that had become a near-daily headline. But while one distraction is eliminated, another presents itself.

As a result of the impending move to Sacramento, this has officially become the final season of baseball played at the Oakland Coliseum, which the A’s have called home since 1968. The development is admittedly a bit difficult for Kotsay to take in.

“I’ve had time to kind of reflect on what this really means from an organizational standpoint,” Kotsay said before Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park. “The history that we’ve had in Oakland, this now being the final season, there’s a lot of emotion that goes behind this. Not just for players, coaching staff and front office, but the members of the organization behind the scenes that are impacted. It’s going to take some time to process.”

Kotsay has spent a combined 11 years with the A’s as a player and coach, developing countless Coliseum memories. His favorite goes back to his days as a player in 2006 while experiencing the fervent atmosphere amongst the Oakland crowd for the American League Championship Series against Detroit.

“It’s challenging in certain ways,” Kotsay said, “to think about the finality of this organization in Oakland. End of the day, we know where we’re going to be the next few seasons, and that gives a little bit of stability.”

One day after the agreement with Sacramento was reached, the A’s announced plans to commemorate their final season at the Coliseum by celebrating fans, employees and players past and present throughout the season. Events include the return of Double Play Wednesdays for home games on June 5, July 24 and Aug. 21 in which fans can purchase $2 plaza-level outfield and view-level tickets and $1 hot dogs. Every remaining Sunday home game will also feature a pregame meet-and-greet for fans with their favorite former A’s players.

“I think this organization will do a great job with the tribute process,” Kotsay said. “Not only honoring the players that have played here and the history created here, but the fan base. The appreciation of the fan base that has supported this organization in Oakland.”

Paul Blackburn has spent all eight of his Major League seasons with the A’s and is the club’s longest-tenured player. Before that, he attended several games at the Coliseum while growing up in nearby Brentwood, Calif. The reality of this season being the last in his home stadium feels a bit peculiar for him.

“Being from [the Bay Area] and growing up going to games at the Coliseum as a kid and having a lot of memories as a fan, it’s all very strange,” Blackburn said. “For the community and the fans in Oakland, it’s tough for them. The A’s have been there for 57 years. ... It just kind of sucks for the community.”

Blackburn added: “I’ve built relationships with a lot of fans that I see every day there. I just hope [we’re] able to give those fans that do show up the best experience that they can have for the rest of this year.”

As for what next season in Sacramento might bring, Blackburn has as good of an idea as anyone about what playing at Sutter Health Park will be like, having already played a number of games there as a Minor Leaguer.

“Oakland is a more pitcher-friendly ballpark,” Blackburn said. “There’s the foul territory, and then when it gets cold at night, the ball doesn’t really go anywhere. That’ll be a little bit of an adjustment in Sacramento. The ball flies a little more there.”

There’s also the question of modifications that need to be made to get the stadium up to Major League standards. Blackburn pointed out that the ballpark’s lighting and clubhouses will need to improve, both of which are among the planned upgrades over the next year.

“I know that it will be of MLB quality,” Kotsay said. “It has to be.”