A’s plan to play next 3 years in Sacramento

The Athletics will leave Oakland after this season and play temporarily at a minor league park near Sacramento until their planned new stadium in Las Vegas is built.

The A’s announced the decision to play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028 on Thursday after being unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland during that time.

Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, who also owns the minor league River Cats, said the region has the potential to become a “mecca for sports.”

Ranadivé joined A’s owner John Fisher and local officials to announce the news at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, where the A’s will play for the next three seasons. The stadium, which is right across from the historic yellow Tower Bridge that connects the city with downtown Sacramento, has 10,624 fixed seats and can currently hold 14,014 fans with lawn seating and standing room.

The River Cats will still play in the stadium the next three years and share it with the A’s.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said in a statement that the city “offered a deal that was fair to the A’s and was fiscally responsible for our city.”

College basketball: USC hired Arkansas’ Eric Musselman as its next men’s coach. Musselman, 59, replaces Andy Enfield, who left after 11 seasons to become the coach at SMU.

NFL: Linebacker Kyle Van Noy is returning to the Baltimore Ravens after agreeing on a two-year, $9 million contract, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on Thursday. Van Noy had a career-high nine sacks in 14 games last season after signing with the Ravens in September.

Soccer: Cole Palmer struck twice in stoppage time to complete a hat trick and a stunning 4-3 comeback win for Chelsea against Manchester United.