Las Vegas Aviators stadium named Ballpark of Year by website
Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Las Vegas Aviators, was voted BaseballParks.com’s 20th annual Ballpark of the Year, the team announced on Wednesday.
Since 2000, BaseballParks.com has presented this honor to a new or remodeled baseball stadium with the best combination of site selection, exterior appearance, architectural design and fan amenities, according to a press release from the site. The selection is made by an advisory panel.
Team president and COO Don Logan and Project Designer Devin Norton from HOK will be presented with the award before the Aviators’ home game on Saturday.
“We love making baseball history with Las Vegas Ballpark and are thrilled to receive this merit-based award,” Logan told BaseballParks.com when informed of the honor. “It’s truly a winning stadium that is setting a new standard for professional baseball nationwide.”
Past honorees include Pittsburgh’s PNC Park in 2001, San Diego’s Petco Park in 2004, Columbus’ Huntington Park in 2009 and Salt River Fields in Arizona in 2011.
“The Las Vegas Ballpark is a magnificent facility with every aspect of the fan experience and player development taken into consideration, from planning through construction,” Pat O’Conner, president of Minor League Baseball, said in a release. “The result is this gorgeous ballpark that has brought new life to professional baseball in the Las Vegas/Summerlin community.”
The Aviators currently lead all of Minor League Baseball in attendance.
Las Vegas Ballpark is located in Downtown Summerlin next door to the Golden Knights’ practice facility, City National Arena.
At a glance
- Fans will be able to watch the presentation of the award in person prior to the Aviators' home game Saturday, Aug. 3
- Past honorees include Pittsburgh's PNC Park in 2001, San Diego's Petco Park in 2004, Columbus' Huntington Park in 2009 and spring-training facility Salt River Fields in 2011.
- Every year since 2000, BaseballParks.com has presented this honor to the new or remodeled baseball stadium with the best combination of site selection, exterior appearance, architectural design, and fan amenities.
- Source: baseballparks.com
In case you missed it
The Aviators were aware that they were close to the Pacific Coast League home run record entering the ninth inning of the July 26 game at El Paso.
But with position player Matthew Batten on the mound for the Chihuahuas, Aviators manager Fran Riordan wasn't sure it would happen.
It did, though, when Jorge Mateo hit a ball over the left-center field fence for the Aviators' 11th home run of the game to set a PCL record. Las Vegas scored 16 straight runs and defeated El Paso, the Southern Division leader, 20-11.
The previous record of 10 home runs was set by two teams — Reno on May 20 of this season and Phoenix on July 6, 1974 — according to MiLB.com
See full story in the July 31 edition of the Pahrump Valley Times
