Big League Weekend Individual Game Tickets On Sale Now
Big League Weekend tickets are priced at $30 for reserved seats, berm and grandstand and $45 for plaza seats. The Cubs will face the Mariners for two games on Friday, March 30 at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday, March 31 at 1:05 p.m.
"This year's Big League Weekend will kick off the baseball season for the Las Vegas community," said LVCVA President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter. "This will mark the 17th consecutive year that Las Vegas has hosted Major League Baseball exhibition action. This event allows us to showcase Las Vegas to baseball fans from Chicago and Seattle, two of Las Vegas' key feeder markets."
The Cubs have bolstered their lineup with the signing of outfielder Alfonso Soriano. He was considered the most coveted player in this year's free agent market. Soriano, 30, enjoyed his first "40-40" season in 2006 with 46 home runs and 41 stolen bases for the Washington Nationals. He became just the fourth player in Major League history to join the "40-40" club (Jose Canseco, 1988; Barry Bonds, 1996; Alex Rodriguez, 1998). He has also compiled "30-30" seasons four times (2002, '03, '05, '06). In 2006, he appeared in 159 games and batted .277 (179-for-647) with 41 doubles and 95 RBI.
Chicago also hired Lou Piniella as the manager. In 2006, the Cubs compiled a 66-96 (.407) record and finished in last place in the National League Central. First baseman Derrek Lee, a member of the Las Vegas Stars in 1997, played in only 50 games last season due to injury and batted .286 with 8 home runs and 30 RBI. He enjoyed a tremendous 2005 season and appeared in 158 games and established career highs in average (.335, led the Major Leagues), hits (199), doubles (50), home runs (46) and RBI (107). Third baseman Aramis Ramirez signed a five-year contract on Nov. 12, 2006, after establishing career highs in home runs (38) and RBI (119) last season. He appeared in 157 games and batted .291 (173-for-594) with 38 doubles.
"We are excited about this year's lineup for Big League Weekend," 51s President and General Manager Don Logan said. "The Cubs fan base and popularity is enormous and we welcome them back to Las Vegas. Chicago fans, both locally and the tourists that visit during this event, always enjoy watching Cubs baseball at Cashman Field.
"We are also delighted to have the Mariners back in Southern Nevada. In Ichiro, they have one of the premier hitters in baseball. He also draws fans from Japan to this event. Big League Weekend is also a great showcase for the fans of Las Vegas to view Major League Baseball up close and personal."
Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, in 2006, became the first player in Major League Baseball history to record 200 hits over the first six seasons of a career (added to his own record as in 2005, became the only player to record 200 hits in his first five seasons). He captured his sixth straight Gold Glove Award after moving from right field to center field in 2006. He has a remarkable .331 career average (1,354-for-4,096) in 957 games. In 2006, he appeared in 161 games and batted .322 (224-for-695) and was 45-for-47 in stolen bases that included 39 consecutive, which established a new club record and an American League single-season record. He was the 2004 American League batting champion (.372 average) and set the Major League single-season hits record with 262, which surpassed George Sisler's 257 hits in 1920.
The Mariners in 2006, under manager Mike Hargrove, compiled a 78-84 (.481) record and finished in fourth place in the American League West.
The 2006 Big League Weekend attracted 33,025 fans over three games featuring the Cubs, Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Mariners.
The Cubs and Mariners return to Cashman Field for the third straight season. The Cubs faced the Padres last season and split the two games. San Diego won 8-4 on March 31 before 11,327 and the Cubs defeated the Padres, 6-5 in 10 innings, on April 1 before another sellout crowd of 11,427. The Cubs and Mariners were featured in the 2005 Big League Weekend that helped celebrate the Las Vegas Centennial (1905-2005). The Mariners defeated the Dodgers, 4-3, on March 30, 2006, before a sellout crowd of 10,271.
The Cubs will be making their sixth all-time appearance in Las Vegas for Big League Weekend (1993, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005). The Cubs have the distinction of setting the Cashman Field all-time attendance record. The Cubs and Chicago White Sox played on April 3, 1993, before a crowd of 15,025 (White Sox won 9-8).
The Mariners will be making their 10th all-time appearance in Las Vegas (1983, 1991-93, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006). Seattle was a part of the first Major League exhibition game to open the Cashman Field Center. The Mariners faced the San Diego Padres on April 1, 1983.
The 51s, under first-year manager Lorenzo Bundy, will open their "25th PCL Season" on Thursday, April 5 at Salt Lake City, Utah against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Las Vegas' home opener will be on Friday, April 13 against the Bees at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. Season tickets and mini-plan packages (10, 20, 33-game plans) are available by calling the 51s office at (702) 798-7825.