Sutter Health Park nominated for USA Today ‘best’ minor league ballpark. What’s it up against?
Heading to Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento to catch a game this year? You might be visiting the best minor league ballpark in the country.
USA Today recently nominated the West Sacramento stadium as one of 20 contenders for the tile of Best Minor League Ballpark in America in 2025.
“Baseball is known as America’s favorite pastime, and minor league ballparks make the game accessible to everyone,” USA Today wrote. “To find the best minor league venues across the country, an expert panel has nominated their top 20 picks.”
USA Today readers can cast their votes to pick the top 10 minor league baseball stadiums in the nation.
Here’s what to know:
What is Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento?
Opened in 2000, Sutter Health Park — formerly known as Raley Field — is home to the Sacramento River Cats, a Triple-A baseball team that’s the San Francisco Giants’ top minor league affiliate.
Starting in 2025, the River Cats will temporarily share the stadium at 400 Ballpark Drive with Major League Baseball’s Athletics while the MLB team waits for a new $1.75 billion domed stadium to be built in Las Vegas.
The A’s left Oakland following the 2024 season when the club decided against extending its lease at the Oakland Coliseum, where the franchise had played for 57 years. Last September, Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé and Athletics owner John Fisher announced the A’s would relocate to Sacramento.
The A’s will play their first home game in Sacramento on March 31, hosting the Chicago Cubs, according to the team’s 2025 regular season schedule.
Premium and standard A’s season tickets for 2025 are already sold out.
What makes Sacramento River Cats stadium so special?
In a recent visit to Sutter Health Park, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred called the West Sacramento stadium “charming.”
“Fans are going to get an opportunity to see Major League Baseball all season long in a really intimate environment,” Manfred told The Sacramento Bee. “And I’m hopeful that the whole year is going to be a positive for us.”
USA Today said Sutter Health Park’s atmosphere and location set it apart.
“Sutter Health Park has an intimate feel thanks to the grass berms behind the outfield fences, reminiscent of spring training ballparks,” USA Today said. “The stadium is amid of a vibrant and trendy neighborhood, and the Sacramento skyline dominates the view, especially the lighted towers of Tower Bridge.”
What are the top 20 ballparks in US?
A total of 20 ballparks across the United States were identified by USA Today experts as tops in the minors.
They are:
- Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York
- Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi
- Victory Field in Indianapolis
- Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio
- Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa
- Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas
- Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina
- FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania
- Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky
- Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento
- Riders Field in Frisco, Texas
- First Horizon Park in Nashville
- Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama
- Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan
- Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida
- Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida
- Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas
How to vote in USA Today contest
Fans can vote for their favorite minor league ballpark once per day until Monday, March 17, according to the USA Today contest rules.
The top 10 winners will be revealed on Wednesday, March 26, USA Today.
How did USA Today come up with its rankings?
To come up with the category nominees for USA Today’s Best10 Readers’ Choice Awards, a panel of experts determined which ballparks would be included based on atmosphere, amenities, architecture, and homages to major league fields or legendary players.
The experts also considered how much each ballpark was worth visiting.
This story was originally published February 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Sutter Health Park nominated for USA Today ‘best’ minor league ballpark. What’s it up against?."
