The not-so-friendly conﬁnes

Cashman Field, built in 1983, is the third-oldest Triple-A park, and lacks player amenities and adequate ticket booths

Las Vegas Sun File Photo

Only Triple-A stadiums in Columbus, Ohio, and Tacoma, Wash., are older than Cashman Field. But Columbus will get a new stadium next spring and there is talk of replacing Tacoma’s 49-year-old park.

By Brian Hilderbrand (contact)

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Five new or recently remodeled stadiums

Ron Kantowski on the sad state of Cashman Field (3-29-2007)
Rehab or rebuild: 51s‚ stadium debate continues to rage on (5-06-2003)

It made for a nice photo op: Derek Stevens, the head of the Las Vegas 51s’ new ownership group, decked out in suit and tie and helping frazzled ticket sellers get customers into Cashman Field on opening night by manning an auxiliary ticket booth with team President Don Logan.

The incident, however, was not concocted by the 51s’ capable media relations director, Jim Gemma. Logan and Stevens desperately were needed to help sell tickets when the lines snaking from the ticket windows numbered well into the hundreds nearly an hour after the first pitch.

For years, Logan has been telling anyone who will listen that the local Triple-A baseball team is in need of a new stadium. Nothing could have better illustrated his point than the scene that played out in the spare ticket booth that night.

“We have four ticket windows, but we really only have three to sell tickets out of because we need one for will call,” Logan explained. “The new stadiums have 10 or 12 windows, so if you have a night like we had (opening) night, you can open up more windows, and instead of having to wait an hour to get into the game, fans can get in in 15 minutes.”

Cashman Field, which opened in 1983, is the third-oldest stadium in Triple-A baseball. When Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio, opens next spring, Cashman will be No. 2. And there is talk in Tacoma, Wash., that 49-year-old Cheney Stadium may need to be replaced because of seismic concerns.

A shortage of ticket windows is only one item on a long list of Cashman Field’s inadequacies.

Most stadiums built in the past decade not only deliver impressive fan amenities but address players’ needs with adequate locker and training facilities and indoor batting cages.

Terry Tiffee, a 51s infielder who has been to the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins and played last year in one of Triple-A baseball’s nicer stadiums, in Norfolk, Va., said 51s and visiting players are at a disadvantage because Cashman Field lacks many of the amenities of newer ballparks. But he’s not so sure Triple-A stadiums should be as luxurious as those in the major leagues.

“That’s part of being in minor-league baseball — you’ve got to deal with what you’ve got until you get back to the big leagues, where the amenities are just unbelievable,” he said. “You can’t have it too nice down here or you won’t want to strive to get back to the big leagues.”

In Mayor Oscar Goodman’s zeal to lure a major league franchise to Las Vegas, talks of a new stadium for the 51s have been pushed to the back burner. Actually, Hizzoner seems to have shoved the issue completely off the stove.

But that won’t stop Logan and the Stevens Baseball Group from trying to get a diamond of their own like one of the gems listed here.

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By seslew

4/23/08 at 9:27 a.m.

Suggest removal

Las Vegas needs a new minor league baseball facility, but how to pay for it? Find a developer who would put a Casino in the basement, luxury condos above and below the grandstands and retail shopping by the parking areas. That way it should only cost the city 30 or 40 million dollars! It is a NO-BRAINER.
Ask Mayor Goodman.
By fvbump82

4/25/08 at 7:18 a.m.

Suggest removal

I love baseball...but I don't love the 51's organization. Prior to retiring in 2005, the 51's Marketing Department promised me an interview with "many things you can do with us." I had been involved with baseball at the high school, college and semi-pro levels for 30 years, including working with the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for the last 5. I enthusiastically came to Las Vegas planning on a part time retirement job (not for the money - to be around the game I loved). They treated me like garbage. All their promises were for naught. I was given a cursory 5 minutes to talk with soem low level "interviewer" then "put in their files"never to be contacted again. Let them take their team to some other state.
By LV_Tom

4/29/08 at 3:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

Las Vegas doesn't need a new ball park, the 51's. So let them find the investors to build a new park.... from the private sector. I'll bet they aren't even paying break even rental rates at Cashman. Why should public funds put more money into the owners pockets?
By LV_Tom

4/29/08 at 3:47 p.m.

Suggest removal

Las Vegas doesn't need a new ball park, the 51's do. So let them find the investors to build a new park.... from the private sector. I'll bet they aren't even paying break even rental rates at Cashman. Why should public funds put more money into the owners pockets?