Raley Field’s Little Bro

The 18,000-capacity Raley Field minor league baseball stadium in Sacramento, Calif., is getting a new little brother or sister, with a 3,500-capacity amphitheatre the home team River Cats is privately financing on a plot of land next to the ballpark.

Matt LaRose, VP of special events at Raley Field, told Pollstar the goal is to complete the venue by March 2009 but that it’s still too early to comment on construction costs or naming rights.

While the 1.5-acre plot next to the stadium is used for barbecues and wine tastings, having an outdoor venue on the site will open doors for more community gatherings.

"It’s going to be used for everything from community events to small concerts to trade shows. Summer movie nights, weddings, graduation ceremonies, even other sporting events – boxing, tennis, volleyball … I’m sure there’s so many others that we haven’t even thought of yet that we’ll be able to do in this venue," LaRose said.

LaRose predicted the new venue will hold anywhere from 40 to 60 additional events, on top of the 100-plus at the site each year.

"I think it’s going to go across all genres. I think you’re going to see Diana Krall to Huey Lewis to Willie Nelson to Chris Isaak," LaRose said.

The venue will include lighting, a sound system and a permanent 40-foot by 60-foot, canopy-covered stage on the north end. It will include box seats, four suites and an area in front of the stage that can either hold seating for 1,300 people at tables or 2,800 seats configured in rows, according to the Sacramento Bee.

"There’s many configurations and flexibility is the name of the game when you try to accommodate all these different types of events," LaRose said. "We’re excited to be a part of it."