Aviators Roll Out Reyes de Plata Uniforms On Cinco de Mayo Sunday
By Alan Snel
LVSportsBiz.com
Eddie Ybarra came to the Las Vegas Aviators’ new ballpark in his Reyes de Plata (Silver Kings) T-shirt and he wore the shirt as a tribute to the previous minor league teams in Las Vegas like the Stars and 51s.
“I’m keeping traditions alive from the past,” Ybarra told LVSportsBiz.com as he strolled along the Summerlin ballpark’s main concourse before Sunday’s 12 noon game between the Aviators and Fresno Grizzlies.
The ball team picked an ideal day — Cinco de Mayo — to focus on the Reyes de Plata licensed logo gear, which was actually unveiled two seasons ago as a Minor League Baseball initiative to connect with Hispanic communities in minor league communities.
It’s also provided the Aviators with what has become secondary licensed logo gear, as the colors and the logo appeal to younger fans, team president Don Logan said Sunday. Other Reyes de Plata dates in Las Vegas are Tuesday, May 7, May 21, June 4, July 2, July 23, July 30 and August 20.
Indeed, fans were buying the light blue and black accented Silver Kings hats, which were going for $26 for flex fit Reyes de Plata caps to $35 for a fancier bone-themed Silver Kings hat.
The players were also wearing Reyes de Plata jerseys and caps during their 11-2 win over Fresno with an announced attendance of 9,286, which the team said was the 15 consecutive sellout to start the home season at the popular new venue. The Aviators are now 18-13.
Aviators fan Dan McGonigal, 35, bought the $26 flex fit cap with the “Reyes de Plata” name and miner logo in front and “LV” in the back.
“This is a good market to do it,” said McGonigal, a banker who came with his wife and two sons, 7 and 5.
Jason Weber, the Aviators retail operation manager, said the team is still stressing and focusing on the new Aviators brand so he noted the Silver Kings logo gear sales are not as strong Sunday as two years ago when the logo was first unveiled. But he said the sales of the Reyes de Plata gear “is still a presence.”
Logan, the team president, anticipated “a few thousand dollars” worth of Silver Kings merchandise sales Sunday.
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