Big League Weekend sliced to single game

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Jan. 12, 2001 | 10:36 a.m.

Las Vegas 51s president Don Logan may have to change the name of his successful Big League Weekend to Big League Weeknight this year.

That's because instead of the normal four- or five-game setup featuring about a half dozen major league clubs, there might be just one midweek night contest between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks are scheduled to play on Thursday night, March 29, at Cashman Field, although Logan said he still hasn't received a signed contract back from the 51s' new parent club. Meanwhile, Logan continues to work the phones to try to persuade some other teams to stop by Las Vegas on their way back from spring training en route to their big league opening destination.

"I've got until next Friday to try and make it happen," Logan said. "I think there's still a good chance (more games could be added)."

What teams are under consideration?

"Everybody in Arizona," Logan said.

That would include the Angels, Mariners, Indians, Cubs, Giants, Athletics, Brewers, White Sox, Rockies and Padres.

The LVCVA provides Logan with a yearly budget to try to lure teams to Las Vegas with the idea the games provide good publicity for the city, especially if they are televised back to their hometown. Both Arizona and Los Angeles are televising their Thursday night date.

"Different teams cost different amounts to bring in here," Logan said. "And if the game ends up being televised, that costs more, too. We have a budgeted amount from the LVCVA, but we don't always spend the whole amount."

Logan said he has been working on trying to sign teams up for Big League Weekend since November, when the 2001 major league schedule was released. After taking one look at that schedule, however, he knew he had an uphill fight on his hands.

"One of the big problems is that unlike past years, when a lot of Eastern teams would be able to stop here on the way back from Florida for their season openers on the West Coast, all the West Coast teams open against each other this year," Logan said. "And the Eastern teams open in the East or Midwest."

That pretty much rules out a team like the Phillies, who played in Big League Weekend last year. It's highly unlikely a team that trains in Florida would want to make a 2,500-mile flight to Las Vegas to play in an exhibition game before flying another 2,000 miles home.

"But if they're on the way to someplace like San Francisco or Los Angeles to open their season, you can get them to stop here on the way," Logan said.

Still, Logan hasn't given up hope for adding to the 2001 Big League Weekend.

"Hopefully, we'll have more to tell you next week," he said.