COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO & WGN TO TELEVISE
BIG LEAGUE WEEKEND GAMES BETWEEN THE CHICAGO CUBS
AND 2015 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION NEW YORK METS
ON THURSDAY-FRIDAY, MARCH 31 – APRIL 1 AT CASHMAN FIELD
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 2015 National League Champion New York Mets, announced today that Comcast SportsNet Chicago & WGN will televise the games, respectively on Thursday, March 31 at 5:05 p.m. and Friday, April 1 at 1:05 p.m. at Cashman Field.
Thursday, March 31: Chicago Cubs (V) – RHP Ryan Williams vs. New York Mets (H) – RHP Jacob deGrom at 5:05 p.m. (PT) – Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Friday, April 1: New York Mets (V) – LHP Steven Matz vs. Chicago Cubs (H) – RHP Jason Hammel at 1:05 p.m. (PT) – WGN
The Big League Weekend two-game Spring Training series will feature a rematch of the 2015 National League Championship series. The Cubs will open the 2016 campaign on Monday, April 4 against the Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim, Calif. and the Mets, who will conclude Spring Training in the Silver State, will open the season with a rematch of the 2015 World Series at Kansas City against the Royals on Sunday Night Baseball (April 3 at 5:37 PT). Both teams will travel to Las Vegas with their potential 25-man rosters for “Opening Day.”
Len Kasper (play-by-play) and Jim Deshaies (analyst) will call the action for both games from the Silver State. Deshaies played for 12 seasons in the Major Leagues with New York Yankees (1984), Houston (1985-91), San Diego (1992), Minnesota (1993, 1994), San Francisco (1993) and Philadelphia (1995). He was also a member of the Triple-A Las Vegas Stars in 1992.
In addition, Mick Gillispie will call the action on the audio webcast broadcast for the two-game series on Cubs.com. Gillispie is the radio voice of the Tennessee Smokies, Double-A affiliate of the Cubs.
“We are excited that the Chicago Cubs will televise both games from Las Vegas on Comcast SportsNet Chicago & WGN,” 51s President/COO Don Logan said. “The television broadcast will provide tremendous exposure for the city of Las Vegas and also the opportunity for the LVCVA to advertise into a key tourism market.
“These two games will also provide a great atmosphere in the ballpark for all of the Mets and Cubs fans, both locally and the tourists that will visit during this event.”
The Cubs will be returning to Cashman Field for the 12th straight season and 15th all-time appearance in Las Vegas for Big League Weekend (1993, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).
The Cubs have recorded 16 sellouts over the past 11 seasons (2005-15) for their annual Big League Weekend visits to Cashman Field.
In 2015, the Cubs total attendance for the Big League Weekend two-day event was 18,382. The Cubs defeated Oakland, 5-3, on March 13 before a crowd of 8,007. The Cubs then defeated the A’s, 3-1, led by Kris Bryant’s two homers on March 14 before a sellout crowd of 10,375.
The Mets will be making their third all-time appearance to Cashman Field for Big League Weekend. The Mets faced the Cubs for two games in 2014. New York defeated Chicago, 9-4, on March 15 (9,106) and the Cubs then defeated the Mets, 6-3, on March 16 before a sellout crowd of 10,408.
The 51s, under manager Wally Backman, will open their 34th season in the Silver State on Thursday, April 7 against the defending PCL & Triple-A Champions, Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, at Cashman Field at 7:05 p.m.
2016 season tickets and mini-plan packages (11, 22, 36-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825. Individual game tickets for the 72-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.