LAS VEGAS FRANCHISE OPENS 31st PCL “HOME” SEASON IN THE SILVER STATE;
WILL WELCOME 10-MILLIONTH ALL-TIME FAN THROUGH THE GATES!
51s HOME OPENER ON FIREWORKS/GIRL SCOUTS NIGHT (FRIDAY, APRIL 12) AGAINST COLORADO SPRINGS; SATURDAY, APRIL 13 FEATURING 51s FLEECE BLANKET NIGHT/DONATE LIFE NEVADA NIGHT; BUDWEISER DOLLAR BEER NIGHT ON THURSDAY, APRIL 18 & 51s ALIEN HAT NIGHT ON FRIDAY, APRIL 19
The Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, will open their 31st “home” season in the Silver State on Friday, April 12 against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field.
The opening homestand will consist of eight games against Colorado Springs (April 12-15) and division-rival, the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s, from Tuesday-Friday, April 16-19 (all games at 7:05 p.m. against the River Cats).
LAS VEGAS FRANCHISE TO WELCOME THE 10-MILLIONTH FAN:
2012 HOME ATTENDANCE RECAP: In 71 dates, Las Vegas’ total was 311,516 for an average of 4,388.
The season-high total was 11,465 vs. Salt Lake on May 7 (School Day Game); second-largest crowd was 11,346 vs. Colorado Springs on June 15 and 11,026 vs. Tucson on July 4th.
The Las Vegas franchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in “home” attendance in all 30 seasons (1983-2012).
The all-time attendance total now stands at 9,986,514 and the franchise will welcome the 10-millionth fan during this weekend’s opening homestand.
LARGEST SINGLE SEASON HOME ATTENDANCE:
1992 387,815 72 dates 5,386 average
1993 386,310 71 dates 5,441 average
2008 374,780 71 dates 5,279 average
2007 371,676 72 dates 5,162 average
*1983 365,848 75 dates 4,878 average
2006 365,659 72 dates 5,079 average
*inaugural season
The 51s, under first-year manager Wally Backman, enters its inaugural season as the top affiliate of the Mets. The 51s are 4-2 on the “season opening” eight-game Northern California road trip to Sacramento and Fresno. The road trip will conclude on Thursday evening against the Grizzlies. The 51s organization have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada. The 51s are 16-14 (.533) all-time in home openers at Cashman Field.
The “Home Opener” on Friday evening will feature a spectacular “Fireworks” Show and Girl Scouts Night and Magnetic Schedules will also be given out to fans in attendance. The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada will be on hand to cheer on the 51s. Green Girl Scout “pom poms” will be given away to the first 1,000 fans through the gates. Girl Scouts will be included throughout the evening activities including the color guard, the cookie eating contest and cookie mascot race. In addition, the 51s will host a tennis ball toss to benefit Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada. The evening will conclude with a giveaway of 1,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.
About Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada
Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls – all girls – where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and life skills for success in the real world. Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada serves more than 10,000 girl and adult members throughout Southern Nevada. Membership is open to all girls 5-17 years-old. To join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call (702) 385-3677 or visit www.girlscoutsnv.org.
Follow Girl Scouts on Twitter: www.twitter.com/girlscoutsnv
Friend Girl Scouts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlscoutsnv
Game two of the four-game series on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. will feature 51s Fleece Blanket Night, sponsored by Nevada Donor Network, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates. Donate Life Nevada is proud to team up with the 51s to bring awareness to the critical shortages of lifesaving organs, celebrate the lives of those saved by transplant and honor the heroic donors who have given a second chance to so many people. During the game, the 51s will present the Donate Life Champion Award to Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Famer Simon Keith. This award, in its inaugural year, is given to select figures from the athletic community who have provided significant support of organ, eye and tissue donation.
Game three of the series on Sunday, April 14 will feature a matinee contest at 12:05 p.m. The first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a 51s Soccer Scarf. The UNLV men’s and women’s soccer teams will conduct an on-field kids clinic prior to the game.
The finale of the four-game series against the Sky Sox on April 15 at 7:05 p.m. will feature “Value Menu Monday.” Monday “home” games will feature a “Value Menu” for the fifth straight season. The 51s and Aramark have teamed together for discounted food items on Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Peanuts, Cracker Jacks and Pretzels for just $1.00 per item.
Colorado Springs’ roster features two of the top 10 prospects in the Rockies organization, according to Baseball America: top prospect, third baseman Nolan Arenado and infielder Ryan Wheeler (No. 10).
Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will be presented on game three of the four-game series against the River Cats on Thursday, April 18. Every Thursday home game throughout the 2013 campaign will feature “Dollar Beers.” Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night.
The finale of the eight-game homestand on Friday, April 19 will feature 51s Alien Hat Night, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates.
CHERUBS ON FRIDAY, APRIL 19:
This day will be proclaimed as “A Day of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness” in Nevada and nationally April has been named Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness month. CHERUBS – The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias has partnered with the 51s to help raise awareness and funds to support this organization through ticket sales to the 51s home game for this evening. CHERUBS will have an information table on the concourse at the game as well as silent auction to raise funds for CHERUBS. 50% of babies born with CDH do not survive, you can learn more about CHERUBS, CDH and how you can help at www.cdhsupport.org .
Sacramento’s roster features three of the top 10 prospects in the A’s organization, according to Baseball America: outfielder Michael Choice (No. 2), right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray (No. 5) and infielder Grant Green (No. 8).
The River Cats have been the top affiliate of the Oakland A’s since 2000. The Vancouver franchise (1978-99) moved to Northern California in 2000. The River Cats have dominated the Pacific Southern Division and have finished in first place for six straight seasons (2007-12) and 11 out of 13 seasons overall (2000-12). Sacramento has won the PCL Championship four times (2003-04; 2007-08 & Triple-A Champions).
The 51s, in conjunction with radio partner Lotus Broadcasting, are proud to announce that KOMP 92.3 FM will sponsor all Budweiser Dollar Beer Nights and KXPT 97.1 FM will sponsor selected firework shows as well as various promotion nights during the 2013 campaign.
The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on Fox Sports Radio 920 AM, which will carry live all 144 regular season games. Also, all games will be available on the 51s website (Major League Baseball Advanced Media, MLBAM) at www.LV51.com . Russ Langer, the eight-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 14th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.
All 51s games will also be broadcast on MiLB.TV via LV51.com.
Following the eight-game homestand, Las Vegas will embark on a brief four-game road trip to Colorado Springs, Colo., to face the Sky Sox, in a four-game series from Saturday-Tuesday, April 20-23. The first scheduled off day for the PCL season is Wednesday, April 24.
Tickets for all 51s home games can be purchased at the Cashman Field box office. The box office is open Monday-Friday (non game days) from Noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com ). Ticketmaster outlets are located at selected Smith’s Food & Drug.
The individual game tickets for the 72-game home season are priced at $10.00 (reserved, $11.00-Day of Game); $13.00 (plaza, $14.00-Day of Game) and $14.00 (field, $15.00-Day of Game). The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza and reserved seats throughout the season except for the “Fireworks Extravaganza” on Wednesday, July 3 (all seats are priced at $15.00 for this special event).
Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10 & 10-Game You Pick’em, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.
Official licensed 51s team merchandise is available on the “Team Shop” section of the website at www.LV51.com .
– Visit the Las Vegas 51s on the Internet at www.lv51.com –
– Visit www.MiLB.com – the official site of Minor League Baseball –