The Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) are getting closer to the opening of their new home in 2019, as construction on Las Vegas Ballpark is making progress.
The 51s are slated to depart Cashman Field following the 2018 season for Las Vegas Ballpark–a new facility currently under construction in Downtown Summerlin. The 51s, who will rebrand prior to the 2019 season, had worked for years to replace Cashman Field, adding to the anticipation of the new ballpark.
Aside from being an upgrade over Cashman Field in terms of player facilities, Las Vegas Ballpark will offer several amenities that should make for a unique fan experience. With the ballpark’s construction process making progress, 51s president/COO Don Logan is taking the opportunity to hype some of the those features. More from the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
He stood there one morning this past week, on what will be a concourse directly behind what will be home plate, his voice growing more excited with each description, from suite and club levels to cornhole for adults and splash pads for kids, from party decks to outfield bleachers like at Fenway Park, from that 36-foot high, 124-foot long scoreboard to state-of-the-art weight and training facilities.
To a swimming pool beyond the outfield wall….
“You want to create destinations within the ballpark where people want to go,” he said. “At the end of the day, this is a business and we need to figure out ways to generate revenue. Lord knows, at Cashman, we figured out how to get by on a shoestring. It’s about time we get to experience some of the things everyone else has for years.”
Next year will mark a seismic shift for Minor League Baseball in the Las Vegas region. Along with a new ballpark and a new name, the 51s will also introduce a new parent club. The New York Mets have served in that role since 2013, but their purchase of the Syracuse Chiefs (International League) will trigger a shift of their Class AAA operations for next season and beyond. With a new ballpark on the way, Las Vegas figures to be one of the more intriguing options for an affiliation at the Class AAA level. We will be tracking affiliation news on our Affiliate Dance page.
Rendering courtesy HOK.
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