LAS VEGAS FRANCHISE OPENS 34th PCL SEASON
IN THE SILVER STATE WITH THE 51s SEASON
HOME OPENER ON BUDWEISER DOLLAR BEER NIGHT (THURSDAY, APRIL 7)
FIREWORKS/GIRL SCOUTS NIGHT (FRIDAY, APRIL 8)
51s WEARABLE PLAYER BLANKET/NEVADA DONOR NETWORK
DONATE LIFE NIGHT (SATURDAY, APRIL 9)
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, will open their 34th season in the Silver State with the “Season & Home Opener” on Thursday, April 7 against the defending Triple-A & PCL Champions, the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, at Cashman Field at 7:05 p.m. The first homestand of the season will consist of eight-games against the Grizzlies (April 7-10) and the Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, from Monday-Thursday, April 11-14 at 7:05 p.m.
The 51s, under fourth-year manager Wally Backman, enters its fourth season as the top affiliate of the Mets. Las Vegas has compiled an overall record of 239-193 (.553) in three seasons which included back-to-back PCL playoff appearances in 2013 & 2014.
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 15-18 (.455) all-time in season openers and 17-16 (.515) all-time in home openers at Cashman Field (1983-2015).
2015 ATTENDANCE: In 69 dates, Las Vegas’ total was 333,520 for an average of 4,834. The 51s began the 2015 “home” season with back-to-back sellouts on April 17 (11,007) and April 18 (9,928). The “home opener” crowd on April 17 of 11,007 was the largest in the 33-year franchise history (10,622 – inaugural home opener on April 10, 1983 vs. Salt Lake City). The Las Vegas franchise has reached the 300,000 plateau in “home” attendance in all 33 seasons (1983-2015) and the all-time attendance total now stands at 10,977,729. The franchise will welcome the 11-millionth fan during the opening homestand (22,271 fans shy).
Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will be presented on the home opener on April 7. Dollar Beer Night will be featured at every Thursday home game during the 2016 season. Proper identification and wristbands are required for dollar beer night. Budweiser Dollar Beer Night will also be presented in the finale of the homestand on April 14.
Friday, April 8 at 7:05 p.m. will feature a spectacular post-game “Fireworks” Show – Viva Las Vegas, presented by The Orleans & Gold Coast on Girl Scouts Night. Magnetic Schedules will also be given out to fans in attendance during “Opening Weekend.” The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada will be on hand to cheer on the 51s. Girl Scouts will be included throughout the evening activities including the color guard, the cookie eating contest and cookie mascot race. The evening will conclude with a giveaway of 500 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 girlscoutsnv.org.
Follow Girl Scouts on Twitter: www.twitter.com/girlscoutsnv
Friend Girl Scouts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/girlscoutsnv
Game three of the four-game series on Saturday, April 9 at 7:05 p.m. will feature 51s Wearable Player Blanket Night, to the first 2,500 fans through the gates, presented by Nevada Donor Network Donate Life Night. 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.
Important Facts – Organ Donors
1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives!
1 tissue donor can heal more than 50 people!
More than 123,000 people are waiting for life saving transplants, that’s enough to fill all the seats at Cashman Field nearly 13 times!
A new name is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes.
In Nevada, 600 people are waiting for life saving transplants.
Organ donors save the lives of more than 25,000 people every year.
Fans interested in being an organ donor are encouraged to register at www.nvdonor.org
The finale of the four-game series against the Grizzlies on Sunday, April 10 will feature “Little League Day #1” at 12:05 p.m. and selected 51s players will be available to sign pre-game autographs for the Little League teams in attendance. In addition, all children will have the opportunity to “Run the Bases” at the conclusion of the contest (with proper shoe attire).
Fresno’s roster features three of the top 10 prospects in the Astros organization, according to Baseball America: Top prospect: first baseman A.J. Reed; right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove (No. 6) and third baseman Colin Moran (No. 8).
Las Vegas will then open a four-game series against the River Cats on April 11 on “Smith’s Value Menu Monday.” Monday “home” games will feature a “Value Menu” for the eighth 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.
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 promotion nights during the 2016 campaign.
The 51s will broadcast all games on Lotus Broadcasting on NBC Sports Radio AM 920 ‘THE GAME’, 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 10-time Nevada Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), is in his 17th season behind the microphone calling 51s baseball.
All 51s games (home & away) will also be broadcast on MiLB.TV via LV51.com.
Following the homestand, Las Vegas will embark on an eight-game Northern California road trip. Las Vegas will face Fresno in a four-game series from Friday-Monday, April 15-18. The 51s will then face the River Cats in a four-game series from Tuesday-Friday, April 19-22.
Tickets for all 51s home games can be purchased at the America First Credit Union Box Office at Cashman Field. 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 $11.00 (reserved, $12.00-Day of Game); $14.00 (plaza, $15.00-Day of Game) and $16.00 (field, $17.00-Day of Game) & the blue dugout seats at $30.00. The traditional $2.00 discount for Military personnel is offered on plaza, field and reserved seats throughout the season except for the “Fireworks Extravaganza” on Monday, July 4 (all seats priced at $16.00-presale & $17.00-Day of Game for this special event).
Season tickets and mini-plan packages (11, 22, 36-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 –
