2018 BIG LEAGUE WEEKEND FEATURES
REMATCH OF THE 2016 WORLD SERIES
THE CHIGAGO CUBS VS. CLEVELAND INDIANS
SATURDAY-SUNDAY MARCH 17th-18th
CASHMAN FIELD INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS ON SALE
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Las Vegas 51s PROFESSIONAL baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, announced today that individual game tickets for the Major League Baseball exhibition games featuring the Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians will go on sale on Monday, February 12 at noon at the SCE Federal Credit Union Box Office at Cashman Field.
Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com). The Cashman Field Box Office, beginning on February 12, will be open Monday-Friday from noon – 4:30 p.m.
The following are the individual game ticket prices for the Cubs/Indians games on Saturday, March 17 at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, March 18 at 1:05 p.m. at Cashman Field: $45 for berm seats; $55 for reserved seats; $65 for plaza seats; $75 for field seats and $85 for dugout/table seats.
“We are excited to welcome Major League Baseball back to Las Vegas for the 28th year of Big League Weekend in March,” Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said. “The Cubs and Indians will provide a great matchup for fans and Las Vegas will provide a great experience for visitors coming to see the games.”
The Cubs have recorded a total of 20 sellouts over the past 13 seasons (2005-17) for their annual Big League Weekend visits to Cashman Field.
Big League Weekend will feature a rematch of the 2016 World Series. The Cubs captured the World Series championship for the first time in 108 years (1908) in a thrilling seven-game series against the Indians.
“We are excited to announce that the Cubs will return to Las Vegas for the 14th straight season,” 51s President/COO Don Logan said. “We also welcome the Cleveland Indians back to Las Vegas for their second all-time visit to Big League Weekend.
“This two-game series will feature a rematch of the 2016 World Series, one of the most memorable fall classics in history. The games will provide a great atmosphere in the ballpark. The fans, both locally and the tourists that visit during this event, will have a memorable time. The Cubs continue to have such a tremendous nationwide fan-base and Las Vegas has become a ‘second’ Spring Training home for them.
“Big League Weekend also provides great exposure for Las Vegas with the games being broadcast into Chicago, the #3 media market in the country and Cleveland (#17 media market).”
In 2017, the Cubs total attendance for the Big League Weekend two-day event was 22,740. The Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 11-7, on March 25 before a sellout crowd of 11,455. The Cubs then defeated the Reds, 22-4, on Saturday, March 26 before another sellout crowd of 11,285.
The Cubs, under manager Joe Maddon, compiled a record of 92-70 (.568) in 2017 and finished in first place in the National League Central Division.
Chicago defeated Washington, 3-games-to-2, in the N.L.D.S. and advanced to its third straight N.L.C.S. The Los Angeles Dodgers then defeated the Cubs, 4-games-to-1, to advance to the World Series.
The Cubs will be returning to Cashman Field for the 14th straight season and 17th all-time appearance in Las Vegas for Big League Weekend (1993, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017).
The Cleveland Indians will make their second all-time appearance in Las Vegas for Big League Weekend. Cleveland defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 13-7, on March 29, 1998 before a sellout crowd of 12,974 at Cashman Field.
The Indians, under manager Terry Francona, compiled an American League best 102-60 record (.630) in 2017 and finished in first place in the Central Division. Cleveland, the 2016 A.L. Champions, had the second-best record in Major League Baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers compiled a MLB-best record of 104-58 (.642).
Cleveland established an A.L. record of 22 consecutive victories from August 24 – September 14 and compiled a record of 27-1 from August 24 – September 21. The 1916 New York Giants hold the Major League record with 26 straight wins.
The New York Yankees defeated Cleveland, 3-games-to-2, in the A.L.D.S.
LAS VEGAS STARS/51s/INDIANS CONNECTION: Sandy Alomar Jr., Cleveland First Base/Catching Coach, played for the Las Vegas Stars for two seasons. The catcher is the only player in franchise history to capture back-to-back PCL MVP awards in 1988 (.297, 16 HR, 71 RBI) & 1989 (.306, 13 HR, 101 RBI). Brad Mills, Cleveland Bench Coach, was the 2002 PCL Manager of the Year. He led the 51s to a franchise-best 85-59 record (.590) as the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Infielder Edwin Encarnacion (2010) and catcher Yan Gomes (2011-12) were members of the 51s as the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The 51s, under manager Tony DeFrancesco, will open their 36th season in the Silver State on Thursday, April 5 against the El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, at Cashman Field at 7:05 p.m.
2018 season tickets and mini-plan packages (11, 22, 35-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 943-7200. Individual game tickets for the 70-game home schedule will go on sale in March.
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 –
