The Howard Hughes Corporation® unveiled Las Vegas Ballpark®, Southern Nevada’s newest professional sports venue, at the April 9 season opener of the Las Vegas Aviators® to a sold-out crowd of 10,000-plus fans. The Las Vegas Aviators, wholly owned by The Howard Hughes Corporation, is the city’s oldest professional sports team and a member of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) as well as affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s, the team played its first game as the Aviators earlier this week, marking the start of its 37th season in Las Vegas.
The evening not only included a thrilling win by the Aviators over the Sacramento River Cats, but also unveiled the highly anticipated Las Vegas Ballpark for excited fans who experienced the Ballpark for the first time.
“Las Vegas Ballpark is yet another sign of the city’s continuing evolution as a major sports destination,” said Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak. “Without a doubt, this is the finest Triple-A stadium in the country, providing a major league venue for the city’s beloved minor league team. Built in just over a year, Las Vegas Ballpark is proof of southern Nevada’s can-do attitude.”
“The opening of the Las Vegas Ballpark in the heart of Downtown Summerlin® is a major milestone for the Las Vegas Valley as the city’s oldest professional sports team takes off and enters a new chapter in its history as the Aviators,” said David R. Weinreb, CEO of The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Accessible from all locations throughout the Las Vegas valley, Las Vegas Ballpark will provide the best in family-friendly entertainment to Las Vegas residents and visitors. The stadium will provide locals an opportunity to enjoy America’s favorite pastime in a state-of-the-art stadium located in the dynamic Downtown Summerlin environment.”
The season opener included a first pitch from Hailey Dawson, a celebrated local nine-year-old with a 3-D printed robotic hand created by the UNLV Howard Hughes School of Engineering and the first person to throw the first pitch in all 30 MLB stadiums nationwide. In addition to Weinreb, Dawson was accompanied to the mound by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Steve Hill. The night was also highlighted by a flyover from the United States Air Force Aggressors; the 64th Aggressor Squadron flying in F-16 Fighting Falcons from Nellis Air Force Base.
In addition to the Las Vegas Aviators’ new logo and team uniforms, fans were introduced to the team’s two new mascots for the first time: Spruce, a goose that lives in the outfield swimming pool at Las Vegas Ballpark; and Aviator, a larger than life “super hero” and ex-pilot who flew with great fanfare into the Ballpark via personal jetpack . Both mascots embody the team’s aviation theme and are a nod to the great passion for aviation that, along with an unparalleled vision of innovation, defines the legacy of Howard R. Hughes, Jr., namesake of The Howard Hughes Corporation.
Located on 7.65 acres just south of City National Arena, practice facility of the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Ballpark is the second major sports facility to open in Downtown Summerlin, the urban core of the Summerlin® master-planned community on the western edge of the Las Vegas valley.
According to Steve Hill, CEO and president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Las Vegas Ballpark is a community asset that will also host other sports and community events year-round. “The Ballpark was designed with flexibility in mind to ensure it can easily host a variety of events and gatherings,” he said. “Las Vegas Ballpark joins a growing list of sports venues and facilities including City National Arena and Las Vegas Stadium, the future home of the Raiders, that are elevating the city’s profile as a sports destination for locals and tourists alike. It’s an exciting time in our city’s history.”
About Summerlin
Developed by The Howard Hughes Corporation, Summerlin began to take shape in 1990 and has ranked in the country’s top 10 best-selling master-planned communities for nearly two decades. Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with approximately 6,000 gross acres still remaining to accommodate future growth, including infrastructure, open space and common areas, all within the master plan. The community is currently home to nearly 100,000 residents who enjoy an unparalleled list of amenities. These include more than 250 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of trails, 26 public and private schools, 14 houses of worship, ten golf courses, shopping centers, medical and cultural facilities, business parks and dozens of actively selling floor plans. Homes are available in a variety of styles – from single-family homes to townhomes– priced from the $300,000s to more than $2.5 million. For information on custom homesites in The Ridges please call 702.255.2500. Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $900s.
About The Howard Hughes Corporation®
The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Our properties include master planned communities, operating properties, development opportunities and other unique assets spanning 14 states from New York to Hawai‘i. The Howard Hughes Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHC with major offices in New York, Columbia, MD, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas and Honolulu. For additional information about HHC, visit www.howardhughes.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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