Whether you’re a sports fanatic — or just look good in purple and black — when it comes to sports, Sacramento has no shortage of teams to support. Our city is home to some of the most loyal fans in the country — even sparking national interest with their traditions.
Whether you’re already a devoted Sac sports fan or you’re new to the area + interested in learning more about the City of Trees’ teams, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Sacramento sports.
Sacramento Kings (NBA) | Est. 1923 as the Rochester Seagrams
Although the team has been around for 100 years, the Kings have gone by many names throughout their history. After more than 20 years as the Rochester Seagrams, the club would adopt the Rochester Royals moniker in 1945, before rebranding again to the Kings in 1972 following a move to Kansas City (the name change was an attempt to avoid confusion with the Kansas City Royals MLB team). The Kings would finally settle down in Sacramento before the 1985-1986 season tipped off.
Where they play: Golden 1 Center
- The Kings moved from their original home of ARCO Arena at the start of the 2016-2017 season.
- G1C is the first entirely solar-powered arena, and was the first indoor sports arena to receive the LEED Platinum designation for its environmentally-conscious design.
Mascot: Slamson the Lion
- According to his bio on NBA.com, Slamson was born in Tanzania and his favorite movie is “The Lion King.”
- Slamson is a 12-time winner of the NBA’s Most Valuable Cat Award and averages 338 hugs per appearance.
Team colors: Purple, slate gray, black
- The Kings wore red and blue until 1994, when the team switched to their iconic purple — but almost ended up with the Cleveland Cavaliers burgundy and gold color scheme.
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- 1951 NBA Championship
- NBA record for consecutive losing seasons (16)
- In 2023 (after 20 long years), the Kings finally won the Pacific Division once again
- Longest active postseason drought in the history of North America’s four major sports (baseball, football, basketball, hockey) — but in 2023, they made it to the NBA Playoffs as the No. 3 seed
Sacramento River Cats (MiLB) | Est. 2000
The River Cats began as the affiliate team for the Oakland Athletics from 2000-2014, and have served the San Francisco Giants since 2015. The River Cats have consistently led Minor League Baseball in crowd attendance over the years, including their first nine seasons in a row. In 2022, the Kings owner Vivek Ranadive purchased a majority interest in the River Cats.
Where they play: Sutter Health Park
- Originally known as Raley Field from 2000-2019
- Also served as the home of the now-defunct UFL team the Sacramento Mountain Lions for the 2012 season.
- One seat in the park sits just 58 ft away from home plate
- From 2025 to 2027, the ballpark will also serve as the temporary home of the Athletics
Mascot: Dinger
- Dinger has an incredible presence on social media and we’re here for it
Team colors: Black, brick red, gold
- The Defenders of the Diamond collaboration with Marvel features a special logo, uniforms, and fan merch inspired by legendary comic book company
- Shop for merch
Major accomplishments:
- Three Triple-A Championships (2007, 2008, 2019)
- Five Pacific Coast League Championships (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2019)
- 12 PCL North Divison titles (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019)
- Won the Bob Freitas Award in 2004 and 2024 for their community engagement and overall excellence
Sacramento Republic FC (USL) | Est. 2012
Since their debut in front of a crowd of 20,000+ fans, Republic fever has gripped the City of Trees. From their title run in their first season, to their Cinderella story in the 2022 US Open Cup, the Indomitable Club has given Sacramentans a lot to cheer for. In November 2024,
the Wilton Rancherita tribe became the team’s majority owner, making history.
Republic FC is working with the City of Sacramento to develop a new Republic Stadium at The Railyards that could open by 2027 with a capacity to hold 12,000 to 15,000 fans.
Where they play: Heart Health Park
- Heart Health Park is located on the grounds of Cal Expo
- The club was so successful after its first season, ~3,800 seats were added to the stadium — which delayed the 2015 home opener
Mascot: Urbs and Indomita
- Urbs and Indomita are a duo of quails — the state bird of California.
- According to the club, Urbs faces forward to represent its “disrupting and visionary forward-thinking philosophy,” while Indomita looks backward “to the history and heritage of the beautiful game.”
Team colors: Old glory red, maple, egg shell
- During the 2022 season, the club also rolled out its “City of Trees” alternate uniforms, inspired by the slogan once painted across the water tower on Freeport Boulevard.
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- 2014 USL Pro Championship
- 2022 US Open Cup Finalists (first non-MLS team to make the finals since 2008)
- 2023 USL leader in revenue, attendance + broadcast viewership
The Athletics (MLB) | Est. 1901
OK, so the A’s aren’t technically Sacramento’s team, but they are calling our city home from 2025 to 2027 before their relocation to Las Vegas. The team was founded as the Philadelphia Athletics in 1901 and played there until 1954. They became the Kansas City Athletics from 1955 to 1967, and the Oakland Athletics from 1968 to 2024. The A’s played their final home game in Oakland on Sept. 26, 2024, in front of an emotional crowd of 45,000 fans, marking the end of an era for the club.
Where they play: Sutter Health Park
- The park has a capacity of 14,000 — 10,624 permanent seats and additional lawn seating on the grass berms
- The team sold out their 2025 season tickets, so the fandom in the City of Trees is high
Mascot: Stomper
- This lovable elephant was born on April 2, 1997 to parents Stella + Stanley. His favorite food is peanuts and his No. 1 vacation spot is Mesa, Arizona.
Team colors: Green, gold, white
- As part of their “Sacramento era,” the team will wear a green and gold patch on their uniforms in 2025 featuring the Tower Bridge with “Sacramento” scrolled beneath it.
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- Nine World Series titles — tied with the Red Sox for the third-most in MLB history
- 15 American League pennants
- 17 division titles
