Las Vegas’ Biggest Baseball Star This Summer Will Be New Ballpark Holding 10,000 Fans In Summerlin

April 3, 2019April 3, 2019 Alan Snel Don Logan, Paul Blackburn, Ryan Dull

By ALAN SNEL

LVSportsBiz.com

LVSportsBiz.com photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell

We chatted with Triple A pitchers Paul Blackburn, 25, and Ryan Dull, 29, and they were pleasant and looked forward to their Las Vegas baseball careers in hopes of hurling for the Oakland Athletics in the Big Leagues.

But in due respect to Blackburn and Dull and the rest of the Las Vegas Aviators ballplayers, the true star of Las Vegas baseball in the summer of 2019 will be a new building with capacity for 10,000, including 342 suite seats in 22 suites, 400 club seats and 350 party deck seats.

It’s the $150 million Taj Mahal of Minor League Baseball, a long time coming after ol’ Cashman Field hung around since 1983 hosting the highest level of the minors in Las Vegas. But it lacked typical baseball training facilities found in Triple A venues and it was deemed outdated. Here’s a 360-degree look at what is arguably the spiffiest new ballpark in America,

Team president Don Logan’s long wait was awarded when team owner/Summerlin master developer Howard Hughes Corporation received an $80 million naming rights deal from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) in October 2017 to help pay for the $150 million venue.

Cashman Field averaged 4,746 fans over 70 dates in its last season in 2018, but expect attendance numbers to be much higher than that at the new Las Vegas Ballpark in 2019. The home-opener April 9 when the Sacramento River Cats visit Las Vegas is sold out.

There will be a big upgrade in food offerings, too, as Centerplate was replaced by PSC (Professional Sports Catering), a Levy Restaurants Minor League Baseball food concessions partner.

And Tenaya Creek Brewery in downtown Las Vegas even brewed a special Aviators golden ale for the inaugural season, a refreshing beer that will go with just about any ballpark dish from Pizza Forte’s meatball sandwiches to the Goodwich’s stacked mac and cheese fan-made creations.

“It’s the best park in the PCL (Pacific Coast League),” Blackburn said. “It’s done very well.”

Dull, the fellow pitcher, put it simply as he stood near the dugout, “This is spectacular.”

For the record, the ballpark architect is veteran sports venue designer HOK, while the general contractor was Hunt/Penta. Some fun construction facts: 150 miles of low voltage cable, 60 miles of feeder and branch circuit wiring, 12,800 cubic yards of concrete, 1,210 tons of rebar and 1,500 tons of steel.

Fan amenities include a 6,700-square-foot club, berm seating overlooking bullpens, outfield bar and picnic area, kids play areas, pool beyond centerfield for 50 fans and a concourse that circles the ballpark in 360-degree fashion.

The ballpark sits on 7.65 acres off South Pavilion Center Drive across the street from the Downtown Summerlin shopping area and next-door to the Vegas Golden Knights’ training center/headquarters (City National Arena).

Even the 8,200 fixed seats are special — they’re made from a breathable material that will be cooler to sit on during Las Vegas’ notorious hot summers.