Sutter Health Park
What a visiting fan needs to know: where to stay, getting in from SMF, parking and tailgating, what to eat and where to sit.
- West Sacramento, CA
- Home of the Athletics
- Fly into SMF
- Stadium tours
Plan every part of the trip
T Mon, Google MapsWhere to stayVisiting fans pick Old Sacramento Waterfront or Downtown Sacramento and DOCO.
Mona Sala, Google MapsGetting thereSMF (Sacramento International), about 10 miles northwest of downtown Sacramento.
Parking and tailgatingYou can tailgate in the Sutter Health Park preferred lots as long as you stay in your own parking space and do not…
- Game dayBag policy: Clear bag policy.
J., Google MapsFood and drink4 bars near the stadium.
Things to do13 things to do around the ballpark, each worth points.
That One Guy From Sacramento, Google MapsSeats and shadeWhich seats are in the shade, and which stay dry.
Games at Sutter Health Park
- Sun, Apr 4, Time TBAChicago Cubs at Athletics
- Mon, Apr 5, Time TBAChicago Cubs at Athletics
- Tue, Apr 6, Time TBAChicago Cubs at Athletics
- Thu, Apr 8, Time TBAChicago White Sox at Athletics
- Fri, Apr 9, Time TBAChicago White Sox at Athletics
- Sat, Apr 10, Time TBAChicago White Sox at Athletics
- Sun, Apr 18, Time TBANew York Mets at Athletics
- Mon, Apr 19, Time TBANew York Mets at Athletics
- Tue, Apr 20, Time TBANew York Mets at Athletics
- Wed, Apr 21, Time TBASeattle Mariners at Athletics
- Thu, Apr 22, Time TBASeattle Mariners at Athletics
- Fri, Apr 23, Time TBASeattle Mariners at Athletics
Where to stay near Sutter Health Park
Where visiting fans stay
From a specialist guideT Mon, Google Maps Old Sacramento WaterfrontVisiting fans pick this
10 min by walk. The Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront and the Delta King Hotel are among the closest hotels to the ballpark. Walk across Tower Bridge to the gates, and eat and drink in Old Sacramento before and after.
Corinna E, Google Maps Downtown Sacramento and DOCOVisiting fans pick this
15 min by walk. The Kimpton Sawyer at 500 J Street is about 0.7 miles (15 minutes) on foot, and on A's game days it runs a golf cart shuttle toward the ballpark if you reserve. The Holiday Inn Downtown and other hotels near Golden 1 Center are close by.
The Bridge District, Google Maps West Sacramento Bridge District
8 min by walk. Home2 Suites by Hilton West Sacramento is about 0.4 miles from the ballpark. You can walk to the gates, Drake's: The Barn and Birdies Social Club without crossing the river.
Drew Kimzey, Google Maps Midtown Sacramento
15 min by rideshare. A livelier bar and restaurant scene with smaller hotels and rentals. It is a short ride across Tower Bridge, and late bars like Barwest work for after the game.
Sacramento Airport area
20 min by drive. A fallback when downtown is full. Yolobus Route 42A runs from the airport to the ballpark, but it comes only every 30 to 60 minutes, so most fans drive.
Around the stadium
From a specialist guideMap of the area
Tap a pin to see the place.
Getting to Sutter Health Park
From Sacramento
From a specialist guideOn game day
Checked at the sourceParking and tailgating at Sutter Health Park
Tailgating
Checked at the sourceGame day at Sutter Health Park
Getting in
Checked at the source- Bag policy: Clear bag policy. Clear plastic backpacks and totes smaller than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, clear fanny packs, one-gallon freezer bags, clutches no larger than 5 x 8 inches and diaper bags are allowed. Regular backpacks, purses, camera bags, mesh bags and tinted bags are not. Walk-through metal detectors are used at every gate.
- Cashless: Sutter Health Park is cashless and has no ATMs. Pay with a credit or debit card.
Touring the stadium
From a specialist guideAfter the final whistle
From a specialist guideOne thing to avoid
From a specialist guideFood and drink at Sutter Health Park
Bars near the stadium
Checked at the sourceJ., Google Maps Drake's: The Barn
985 Riverfront St, West Sacramento, CA 95691
A brewery beer garden by the river with house beers, wood-fired pizza, fire pits and lawn games. It is one of the most popular pregame stops, so come early.
Away fans: a big, relaxed beer garden full of fans from both sides. Northern California splits between the A's and the Giants, so away colors fit in.
Wander Lust, Google Maps Birdies Social Club
805 Riverfront St, Suite 100, West Sacramento, CA 95691
The closest bar to the gates, with two outdoor patios, a full bar and indoor golf bays. It makes an easy first or last drink.
Away fans: a mixed crowd of fans and golfers, so visitors are welcome.
Don Maine, Google Maps The Midway
330 3rd St, West Sacramento, CA 95605
A dive bar with Asian fusion food and a patio on the West Sacramento side of the river. It is a short walk north of the ballpark.
Away fans: a neighborhood dive bar, so away colors draw little notice.
Franquette, Google Maps FranquetteBefore or after
965 Bridge St, Suite 100, West Sacramento, CA 95691
A French-style wine bar and cafe from the team behind the Michelin-rated Canon. Food stays under $20, and it works for an early meal before the game.
Away fans: a cafe and wine bar crowd rather than a sports crowd, so anyone fits in.
Things to do around Sutter Health Park
Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.
- Landmark40 points
Stroll Old Sacramento
The Gold Rush era waterfront district has museums, shops, saloons and river views of Tower Bridge. Start at the visitor center for maps, then walk to the ballpark from here.
Free. 3 hours 30 minutes before first pitch
- Drink40 points
Pregame at Drake's: The Barn
A riverside brewery beer garden a few minutes' walk from the gates, with house beers, wood-fired pizza and fire pits. It is one of the most popular pregame stops, so arrive early.
$$. 2 hours 30 minutes before first pitch
- Drink40 points
Game-day deal at Fanny Ann's
This Old Sacramento burger saloon has pinball, a big beer list and game-day drink specials from $5. Show a ticket for that day's game for 20% off draft beer and burgers, then walk over the bridge.
$. 2 hours 30 minutes before first pitch
- Photo75 points
Walk across Tower Bridge
The gold 1935 lift bridge links downtown Sacramento to the ballpark, and you can see it over the right field fence. Walk its sidewalk to the game and stop mid-span for a photo of the skyline and the river.
Free. 1 hour 40 minutes before first pitch
- Landmark50 points
Find Stairwell Four
Near the left field foul pole, ask an usher for Stairwell Four. It holds old uniforms, scorecards, championship rings and signed balls from the A's, the River Cats and earlier Sacramento clubs.
Free. 1 hour 15 minutes before first pitch
- Ritual65 points
Sunset on Toyota Home Run Hill
The general admission lawn beyond the right field fence looks out at the gold Tower Bridge and the Sacramento skyline. Spread a blanket and watch the sun go down behind the third base side.
$. 1 hour before first pitch
- Eat65 points
Tri Tip Sandwich
Tri tip is the Central California barbecue cut, and the A's call the ballpark tri tip sandwich famous. Find it at the portable carts on the concourse, with garlic fries from Bridges Grille on the side.
$$. 30 minutes before first pitch
- Outing50 points
California State Railroad Museum
More than 20 restored locomotives and cars fill this big museum in Old Sacramento, a short walk from the ballpark. It is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and adult tickets cost $12.
$$
- Landmark40 points
California State Capitol
The domed Capitol and its museum are free to visit, and Capitol Park around it covers 40 acres of gardens and memorials. The building is open 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, so go on a weekday before a night game.
Free
- Outing40 points
Crocker Art Museum
The region's main art museum has a large collection of California art going back to the Gold Rush. It sits on the downtown side of Tower Bridge and is closed Monday and Tuesday.
$$
- Eat50 points
Ice cream at Gunther's
A Sacramento landmark since 1940, Gunther's makes ice cream from its original recipe plus real fruit freezes. It is open daily from 11am to 9pm, so stop by on a hot afternoon.
$
- Eat40 points
Breakfast at Franquette
A French-style cafe and wine bar from the team behind the Michelin-rated Canon, a few blocks from the ballpark. Order quiche or a tartine, and come back for a glass of wine before first pitch.
$$
- Ritual50 points
Kids run the bases on Sunday
After every Sunday home game, kids 12 and under can run the bases. The line starts at the edge of the Pacifico Porch and closes 15 minutes after the last out.
Free. 3 hours after first pitch
Seats and shade at Sutter Health Park
Where the sun lands on a day game, and which seats stay dry when it rains.
Shade and cover
From a specialist guide- Lower level sections 109 to 122, home plate to the third base side. The ballpark faces east-northeast and the sun sets beyond the third base side, so these sections fall into shade first for night games.
- Back rows of sections 109 to 113 behind home plate. On afternoon games, shade starts behind home plate around 2 to 3pm. The back quarter of these sections gets shade from the suites and press box first.
- Back rows of sections 103 to 105. Only the very back rows sit under the club level overhang, and only in the early innings of a 1pm game. Most seats at an early afternoon game are in full sun.
- Sections 101 to 107, club sections 201 to 206 and Toyota Home Run Hill. The first base side and the right field lawn stay in the sun until sunset, which comes around 8:30pm in June. Skip them on hot nights or bring a hat and sunscreen.
- Sections 123 to 125, far down the third base line. These seats extend past the shade line. The sun is behind you, but you can still feel the heat until it sets.
- Summer heat, all sections. Sacramento averages 76 days a year above 90 degrees and 14 above 100. A delta breeze often cools the evening. The Gilt-Edge Club in the outfield is an open-air shaded lounge, the Legacy Club has an air-conditioned lounge, and the kids area has a misting pad.