Monday, January 25, 2010

LAS VEGAS - Big League Dreams and the city of Las Vegas teamed up Monday with baseball stars Jason and Jeremy Giambi, Bobby Grich, Wally Joyner and Bill Russell to officially open the Big League Dreams Sports Park in Las Vegas.

Fanfare included free hot dogs and refreshments for hundreds of fans who showed up to see the new facility featuring family-friendly attractions and six fields replicating famous major league baseball stadiums
Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Angels Stadium, Wrigley Field and Crosley Field.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese and Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown all praised the sports park as a world-class attraction for local and visiting ballplayers and families.

"Big League Dreams is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility that raises the bar for baseball and softball in the city of Las Vegas," Mayor Goodman said. "Las Vegas is known for having the best entertainment, hotels,
restaurants and shopping, and now we also have the best ball fields."

"I can't wait to see kids shagging flies and hitting home runs in our very own versions of Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium and these other historic replica fields," said Mayor Pro Tem Reese, whose district includes the park. "The renovation of Freedom Park, including the Big League Dreams complex, has really made this a special place for the community to come together to enjoy themselves."

Brown, who played professional baseball in Las Vegas, also played a key role during his days as a Las Vegas city councilman in forging the public-private partnership that made Big League Dreams possible.

"This is a banner day for ballplayers of all ages. Big League Dreams is a tremendous community asset and furthers the city's reputation of having the finest recreational facilities in America," Brown said.

BLD owners and representatives included former Los Angeles Dodgers star Bill Russell, a former BLD executive who now serves as a consultant for the company.

"This is our 10th Big League Dreams Sports Park, and it's a great fit for Las Vegas," Russell said. "Speaking from experience, I know sports fans of all ages will enjoy this place for years to come. We also know that this park, even more than our others, will attract visitors from all over the country."

In addition to the six fields designed for youth baseball and adult softball, Big League Dreams in Las Vegas includes two sports-themed restaurants, an indoor field house for soccer and other activities, batting cages, playgrounds and an area for picnics and private parties.

BLD is on the east side of Las Vegas on the east side of Freedom Park, at 3151 E. Washington Ave., near Pecos Road.

BLD is operating and maintaining the sports park in a public-private partnership with the city of Las Vegas. The 35-acre Big League Dreams is part of the city's upgrade of its 68-acre Freedom Park. BLD has a 30-year maintenance and operations agreement with the city, covering all expenses related to the sports park at no cost to the city, which shares the gross revenue from the complex.

The design/build team is Roche Constructors, Inc. and Dekker, Perich, Sabatini, Inc. City of Las Vegas Public Works Department staff, along with Harris Associates, managed the construction. Leisure Services Department staff will program activities and events at the newly renovated Freedom Park.

Funding is provided by the city of Las Vegas. The Big League Dreams project cost approximately $28.5 million.

Big League Dreams, founded in 1997 in Cathedral City, Calif., builds and operates world-class family recreational facilities through public-private partnerships. Its sports parks are baseball and softball fields designed and built as replicas of famous and historic major league stadiums. Call BLD in Las Vegas at (702) 642-4448 and visit www.BigLeagueDreams.com.

-BLD-