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.
Related Stories
| Aug 19, 2014
HOK to acquire 360 Architecture
Expected to be finalized by the end of October, the acquisition of 360 Architecture will provide immediate benefits to both firms’ clients worldwide as HOK re-enters the sports and entertainment market.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction market benefits from improving economy, new technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following years of fairly lackluster demand for commercial property remodeling, reconstruction revenue is improving, according to the 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Construction Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Structure Tone, Turner, and Gilbane top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction contractor and construction management firms in the U.S.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, URS, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Stantec, HDR, and HOK top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Jul 23, 2014
Meet Acquario Ceará: The giant crustacean-shaped aquarium that's causing concerns
A new aquarium on Brazil's northeastern coast is designed, engineered, constructed and financed by U.S. firms and institutions.
| Jul 23, 2014
Architecture Billings Index up nearly a point in June
AIA reported the June ABI score was 53.5, up from a mark of 52.6 in May.
| Jul 21, 2014
Economists ponder uneven recovery, weigh benefits of big infrastructure [2014 Giants 300 Report]
According to expert forecasters, multifamily projects, the Panama Canal expansion, and the petroleum industry’s “shale gale” could be saving graces for commercial AEC firms seeking growth opportunities in an economy that’s provided its share of recent disappointments.
| Jul 18, 2014
Contractors warm up to new technologies, invent new management schemes [2014 Giants 300 Report]
“UAV.” “LATISTA.” “CMST.” If BD+C Giants 300 contractors have anything to say about it, these new terms may someday be as well known as “BIM” or “LEED.” Here’s a sampling of what Giant GCs and CMs are doing by way of technological and managerial innovation.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Construction Management Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, Barton Malow, Hill International top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest construction management and project management firms in the United States.
