51s keep attracting loyal fans

They play in an outdated ballpark in one of Las Vegas' oldest neighborhoods as the top farm club for a big league team most local fans couldn't care less about.

The 51s (61-70) -- after getting swept in four home games by the Portland Beavers (52-79), who have the worst record in the Pacific Coast League -- are also headed for their sixth losing record in their last seven seasons.

Despite these drawbacks, Las Vegas' Triple-A franchise -- affiliated with the far-flung Toronto Blue Jays -- continues to consistently attract fans to aging Cashman Field.

For the 28th time in as many seasons, the 51s have surpassed 300,000 in home attendance, attracting 301,598 fans this year in 66 home games.

Their average attendance of 4,570 ranks 15th of 16 teams in the PCL but is more than enough to ensure another profitable season for the 51s, who have outlasted 20 other professional sports teams in Southern Nevada since starting play in 1983 as the Stars.

"Everybody knows the facility doesn't have the amenities that you'd like, yet we've carved out a nice niche in this market," 51s general manager Don Logan said. "We have a very good, loyal core following."

Logan attributes the steady attendance -- which has never dipped below 300,000 or climbed above 400,000 -- to the love of baseball and to the high level of play in the PCL.

"Most every one of these guys either has or will play in the big leagues. You can't say that about other sports in town," he said. "Not to demean them, but this is a far better product than the (Wranglers') hockey product, and college sports is a completely different animal."

The Sacramento River Cats lead the PCL in home attendance, having drawn 563,142 fans for an average of 8,939 per game.

Eight teams, including the Reno Aces, have eclipsed 400,000 fans -- a mark first-year 51s team president Drew Dondero hopes to reach next season, mostly through a marketing campaign aimed at residents of Summerlin and Henderson.

"We want them to understand that we're here and we're a great option," said Dondero, who promised to make improvements to the park but didn't provide details.

Las Vegas has drawn more than 365,000 fans in six seasons, including 2006, 2007 and 2008, and peaked at 387,815 in 1992.

The population of Clark County has almost quadrupled since 1983, from about 535,000 to nearly two million, yet the 51s have been unable to grow their attendance along the way -- a fact Logan attributes mostly to "the proliferation of locals-based casinos."

"In Las Vegas, there's so many more things to do than anywhere else, certainly in any city our size," he said. "People talk about the town having grown, but how many locals-oriented casinos are there now? ... The (only) way you're going to see a dramatic increase in attendance is in a new facility."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.