ADVERTISEMENT
Shop at Jay’s Market at 190 East Flamingo Road at the Koval Lane intersection east of the Strip.
ADVERTISEMENT
By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Before Raiders owner Mark Davis moved his NFL franchise to Las Vegas and a publicly-subsidized stadium in 2020 and Bill Foley launched the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 there was Las Vegas locals like Rossi Ralenkotter who was a force behind minor league baseball in Sin City.
The Cincinnati Reds fan who would ascend to the top executive post at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) returned to the baseball diamond Friday night when the Las Vegas Aviators minor league team honored Ralenkotter with a Bobblehead Night and the chance to throw out the game’s first pitch (officially performed by his son-in-law).
As an LVCVA executive, Ralenkotter helped create Big League Weekend in March when two MLB teams visit Las Vegas to play two spring training games. Ralenkotter was also instrumental in getting the LVCVA to give $80 million in the form of a naming rights deal in October 2017 to Summerlin master developer Howard Hughes Corporation to help Howard Hughes build its $150 million Las Vegas Aviators ballpark in Downtown Summerlin.
Ralenkotter was in a wheelchair surrounded by family and tean officials like his close friend, Aviators President Don Logan. He stood and watched his son-in-law throw the first pitch.
Ralenkotter left the LVCVA in August 2018 after 45 years and two years later he struck a plea deal in a criminal case connected to the misuse of airlines gift cards that were bought by the LVCVA. It was in August 2020 when Ralenkotter agreed to pay a $24,406 fine for violating state ethics laws.
He started at the LVCVA in 1973 as a research analyst.
But Friday night was a time for Ralenkotter’s family and friends to remember his love for baseball.
The Aviators beat the Salt Lake Bees, 3-2, tonight with an announced sellout attendance of 9,570.
The game started a half-hour late to get the field ready:
The Aviators, the Triple-A team of the Athletics, won the first half of the 10-team Pacific Coast League and will play Tacoma next week in a Best-of-3 series starting next Tuesday. Las Vegas Ballpark will also host the Triple-A championship game matching the International League and Pacific Coast League champs.
PSA
*