New ballpark is another draw for thriving downtown in Summerlin, Nev.
By John Caulfield, Senior Editor
On April 9, the Las Vegas Ballpark, home to the Las Vegas Aviators Triple-A baseball team, opened in Downtown Summerlin, Nev. The club and ballpark are wholly owned by Howard Hughes Corporation, which claims this is the first minor-league ballpark in the U.S. to be built within a master-planned community.
Summerlin, on the western rim of Las Vegas, has ranked among the country’s top-10 best-selling communities for two decades. Developed by Howard Hughes Corporation, it encompasses 22,500 acres where 100,000 residents live within 250 neighborhoods. There are 6,000 acres still available for growth. Downtown Summerlin is the city’s walkable urban center with has over 125 stores. Its newer buildings include the practice facility for the Las Vegas Golden Knights pro hockey franchise.
Summerlin drew more than 18 million visitors last year, and the new $150 million ballpark, with 8,200 fixed seats and a total capacity of 10,000, is expected to be another major attraction. The Aviators, which recently changed its name from the Las Vegas 51s, plays in the Pacific Coast League and is part of the Oakland Athletics system. Prior to opening its 37th season at Las Vegas Ballpark this spring, the team had been drawing at least 300,000 fans annually at its old home, Cashman Field.
“Tonight marks a dynamic new chapter for the community of Summerlin and its thriving downtown, which continues to grow as a vibrant destination for visitors throughout Nevada, and beyond,” said David Weinreb, CEO of Howard Hughes Corporation, during opening-day ceremonies that included Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak.
The $150 million ballpark is expected to attract even more people to Summerlin, which drew 18 million visitors last year. Image: Howard Hughes Corporation
Las Vegas Ballpark, which sits on 7.65 acres, was designed by HOK and built by a joint venture of AECOM Hunt and Penta Building Group. From groundbreaking, the stadium took about 13 months to complete. It includes 22 suites, 400 club-level seats and 350 party-deck seats. Howard Hughes Corporation claims that the Aviators are the first team in any sport with a home field that features 4Topps Premium Seating’s breathable AirFlow Mesh seats.
The ballpark also has the largest LED video screen in Minor League Baseball. The screen, designed by South Dakota-based Daktronics, is 31-ft high by 126-ft wide, with a 13-HD pixel layout. Two ribbon displays measure 3.5-ft high by 90-ft wide and feature a 15-HD pixel layout.