Exclusive: 51s Owner Howard Hughes Corp. Hires PENTA to Build Summerlin Ballpark
By ALAN SNEL
Las Vegas 51s owner Howard Hughes Corp. has quietly hired general contractor PENTA to build its Triple A baseball park along South Pavilion Center Drive in Summerlin, LVSportsBiz.com has exclusively learned this week.
While there has been much talk about Howard Hughes, Summerlin’s developer, building the $85 million baseball stadium for its Las Vegas 51s, its hiring of the well-known local general contractor is the first tangible sign toward construction of the ballpark.
Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak said he is unaware of Howard Hughes Corp. submitting any formal application or plans for the ballpark for the South Pavilion Center Drive site, which is only a half-mile or so south of the Vegas Golden Knights hockey practice facility and headquarters.
There are large pipes and earth-moving equipment in the ballpark site area, but Sisolak said those are for a new sewer line that will be installed to serve neighboring development and the new ballpark.
The 51s ballpark site is just outside the city of Las Vegas borders in the unincorporated county.
The location would be a nice fit for Howard Hughes Corp., because not only does the publicly-traded, Dallas-based land development company own the ballpark site it also built and owns the Downtown Summerlin commercial development across the street. Howard Hughes’ most recent press release about earnings Aug. 7 mentions some Summerlin development projects but not the 51s ballpark.
It’s no secret that the 51s are itching to leave downtown Cashman Field because that baseball venue is outdated and lacks the typical amenities seen in modern Triple A ballparks such as a wide concourse, suites and training facilities for the ballplayers. The 51s will have a new co-tenant at the venue, as a new soccer team called the Las Vegas Lights will start play at the stadium in 2018.
LVSportsBiz.com reached out to Tom Warden, Howard Hughes Corp.’s local executive at the company’s offices in the City National Bank building who talks with the media occasionally. Warden said through a company receptionist he was working on a response Tuesday.
LVSportsBiz contacted for Don Logan, the 51s president who said it’s a Howard Hughes Corp. issue.
Tim Putnam, a PENTA marketing staffer, said he would get back to LVSportsBiz.com. Penta is no stranger to major projects in Las Vegas. It partnered with Hunt to build the $375 million T-Mobile Arena in 19 months.
The 51s do have to give notice to their Cashman landlord — the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority — and tie up loose ends with the LVCVA about leaving the downtown stadium off Las Vegas Boulevard. But that’s not expected to be an obstacle for Howard Hughes to move its Triple A ballclub — a New York Mets affiliate — from downtown to the western suburbs of Summerlin.
Contact LVSportsBiz.com founder/writer Alan Snel at asnel@LVSportsBiz.com
