COMCAST SPORTSNET CHICAGO & WGN
TELEVISE BIG LEAGUE WEEKEND GAMES
BETWEEN THE 2016 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION
CHICAGO CUBS VS. CINCINNATI REDS
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 25-26 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 New York Mets, announced today that Comcast SportsNet Chicago & WGN will televise the games, respectively on Saturday, March 25 at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday, March 26 at 1:05 p.m. at Cashman Field.
The Big League Weekend two-game Spring Training series will feature the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds and both games are SOLD OUT.
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, WSCR The Score 670 AM Radio (Chicago) will broadcast the two-game series from Las Vegas with Pat Hughes (play-by-play) and Ron Coomer (color analyst).
“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 Las Vegas and 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 Cubs and Reds fans, both locally and the tourists that will visit during this event.”
The Cubs will be returning to Cashman Field for the 13th straight season and 16th 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).
The Cubs have recorded a total of 18 sellouts over the past 12 seasons (2005-16) for their annual Big League Weekend visits to Cashman Field.
In 2016, the Cubs total attendance for the Big League Weekend two-day event was 22,020. The Cubs defeated the 2015 National League Champion New York Mets, 5-1, on March 31 before a sellout crowd of 11,025. The Mets then defeated the Cubs, 8-1, on April 1 before another sellout crowd of 10,995.
Cincinnati will be making its third all-time appearance to Cashman Field for Big League Weekend. The Reds’ last appearance was vs. the Cubs on March 12, 2011 before a crowd of 9,047 (Reds defeated the Cubs, 9-8). Cincinnati faced the Los Angeles Dodgers at Cashman Field on March 31, 2010 before a sellout crowd of 11,896 (Reds defeated the Dodgers, 12-4).
The 51s, under manager Pedro Lopez, will open their 35th season in the Silver State on Thursday, April 6 against the defending PCL champion, the El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, at Southwest University Park. The “home opener” will be on Tuesday, April 11 against the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, at Cashman Field at 7:05 p.m.
2017 season tickets and mini-plan packages (11, 22, 36-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 943-7200. Individual game tickets for the 71-game home schedule are on sale now at the SCE Federal Credit Union Box Office at Cashman Field. The box office is open Monday-Friday from Noon to 4:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster (1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com).
Official licensed 51s team merchandise is available on the “Team Shop” section of the website at www.LV51.com.
