The $46.5 million stadium was built in eight and a half months, but extended periods of bad weather forced the River Cats on a season-opening one-month-long road trip, as completion was delayed by 45 days. The completion time, however, was estimated to be about two years. The home opener was played on May 15, 2000.
The stadium is one of the few professional sports facilities in the nation built without a public sector contribution. Although constructed using bonds financed by the River City Stadium Financing Authority, bond payments are paid from ticket, concession, advertising, and other revenues, not taxes. Because the $46.5 million project cost was too large for the host city to finance, Christopher Cabaldon, in his first term as mayor of West Sacramento, recruited Sacramento County and Yolo County to join his city in a joint-powers agency which became the stadium financing authority.
The stadium has 10,624 permanent seats and grass berms in both right and left fields for a total capacity of 14,014.[7] Its original capacity was 14,611 and was decreased to 14,414 in 2005 with the addition of a party deck. It further decreased in 2010 with the opening of the Diamond Club behind home plate.[8] The stadium has 2,798 club seats and 750 seats in 36 suites.[8]
The initial naming rights for the facility were sold to Raley's, a regional chain of supermarkets which is also based in West Sacramento, for $15 million over 20 years.
There was discussion of the Sacramento Mountain Lions, an American football team in the United Football League, using the field during the 2012 season.[10] A final agreement to this effect was announced on August 6, 2012.[11] The UFL, including the Mountain Lions, abruptly shut down operations in the middle of the 2012 season.
With its total capacity of 14,014, Sutter Health Park is set to become the smallest ballpark in MLB.[17]
On April 4, 2024, the Sacramento River Cats announced that, tentatively, they will remain at Sutter Health Park as well, playing on days when the Athletics are not playing there.[18]