The awards and accolades just keep rolling in for the new Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin. The Las Vegas Aviators' home field was named BaseballParks.com's Ballpark of the Year award for 2019. This is the 20th year the honor has been given out to a pro baseball facility and the Las Vegas Ballpark took the honors in its inaugural season.
Every year since 2000, BaseballParks.com has presented this honor to the new or remodeled baseball stadium with the best combination of site selection, exterior appearance, architectural design, and fan amenities. The selection is made by an advisory panel utilized by the 22-year-old website. 'The Ballpark' was also recently named Triple-A Baseball's top stadium.
“We love making baseball history with Las Vegas Ballpark and are thrilled to receive this merit-based award,” President and COO Don Logan said. “It’s truly a winning stadium that is setting a new standard for professional baseball nationwide.”
The awards presentation ceremony will take place prior to the Aviators’ home game Saturday, Aug. 3. Joe Mock, founder and webmaster of the website, will present plaques to Logan as well as project designer Devin Norton from the architecture firm, HOK. Summerlin President Kevin T. Orrock will also be on hand for the ceremony.
“Las Vegas Ballpark joins City National Arena, practice facility of the Vegas Golden Knights, to make Downtown Summerlin® a major sports destination, not just for the immediate Summerlin community but for everyone in Southern Nevada,” Orrock said. “As owner of the Las Vegas Aviators, The Howard Hughes Corporation is committed to nothing but the best for both the team and the fans, ensuring the stadium experience is exceptional. We couldn’t be more pleased to be recognized by BaseballParks.com with this award.”
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The list of past winners of the Ballpark of the Year award include Pittsburgh’s PNC Park in 2001, San Diego’s Petco Park in 2004, Columbus’ Huntington Park in 2009 and spring-training facility Salt River Fields in 2011.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) committed $80 million over 20 years for the stadium naming rights sponsorship so, needless to say, executives with the LVCA are ecstatic with being named Ballpark of the Year.
“We appreciate that BaseballParks.com recognizes what the Las Vegas Aviators’ fans have been saying since Las Vegas Ballpark debuted earlier this year,” said Steve Hill, CEO and President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “We congratulate our partners at The Howard Hughes Corporation for developing an incredible venue and creating an impactful and memorable fan experience.”
According to a release from the Aviators, "the honor presented by BaseballParks.com is based on merit, not on a vote by fans. Mock, who has visited all 203 ballparks used by the Majors, spring training and the affiliated Minor Leagues, consulted with two other experts in the field to determine the winner. Joining Mock on the selection panel are Doug Greenwald, baseball broadcaster for the past 24 years, and Graham Knight, author of three books on ballparks and who operates the popular Baseball Pilgrimages website."
The award is as much an architecture award as it is the overall experience. It is a highly-esteemed honor prized by designers of sports facilities.
“We’re honored and humbled that Las Vegas Ballpark has been recognized as the Ballpark of the Year,” said Anton Foss, Managing Principal of HOK’s San Francisco practice. “The ballpark’s materials and feel took cues from the nearby Red Rock Canyon and the big sky of the Southern Nevada desert. Howard Hughes’ aviation legacy inspired the graceful curve in the roof, and the project always was informed by the surrounding Downtown Summerlin area.
"The impact the ballpark has had on the experience for fans and the surrounding community is a testament to a committed client and talented team who wanted to bring a first-class baseball environment to Las Vegas.”
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