Fans enjoy Big League Weekend experience despite ballpark shortcomings
March 26, 2017 - 6:08 pm
Updated March 26, 2017 - 11:24 pm

A fan lifts a "W" sign to cheer for the Cubs during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs players sign autographs before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs pitcher Eddie Butler (53) throws a pitch during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs second baseman Tommy La Stella (2) fields a ground ball during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) takes a swing during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) takes a lead off first base during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs runner John Andreoli (73) takes off for third base while Cincinnati Reds short stop Eugenio Suarez (7) barehands a ground ball during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cincinnati Reds Jesse Winker (33) high fives the third base coach Billy Hatcher after hitting a home run during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Phillip Ervin (71) during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) throws out a runner during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tim Adleman (46) throws a pitch during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) talks to a fan during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans get autographs before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans bring everything from baseballs to license plates to get autographs from players before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) crosses home plate after hitting a home run during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) takes a swing during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

The Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds play during Big League Weekend at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cubs fans cheer for a home run by Alber Almora Jr. (5) watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sandy Lugo (90) and catcher Tucker Barnhart (16) field a ball during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs outfielder Bijan Rademacher (92) high fives the third base coach after hitting a grand slam during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Chicago Cubs outfielder Bijan Rademacher (92) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a grand slam during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans wait for the gates to open before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans wait to get autographs before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans line up to get autographs during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

Fans watch a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

A concession stand line stretches both ways through the concourse, blocking foot traffic during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto

A concession stand line stretches into the covered concourse area during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Cashman Field in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 26, 2017. (Brett Le Blanc/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @bleblancphoto
Near-perfect conditions and a beautifully manicured diamond greeted baseball fans this weekend for two sold-out games at Cashman Field.
“It’s all shined up and the field looks better than ever,” Reds bench coach Jim Riggleman, a former Las Vegas Stars manager, said before the series started.
Many fans, too, had complimentary things to say about the stadium experience, though the narrow, crowded concourse and long waits in line helped to magnify the reasons the 51s have been pushing for a new ballpark for years.
“I talked to somebody yesterday that said they had to wait in line for two innings to get something to eat,” 51s president Don Logan said. “With points of sale for concessions, you’ve got to have power and there’s only so much power. There’s only so many places you can serve and you do the best with what you’ve got to work with.”
With 51s regular-season game attendance typically much lower than the 11,000-plus fans who passed through the turnstiles on Saturday and Sunday, some of these problems are less likely to crop up on an average day.
“It’s certainly illuminated, it’s certainly magnified on a weekend like this,” Logan said.
But they’re still problems that the 51s face during the regular season, too, and they have Logan thinking about what the two-game Big League Weekend might be like at a new park.
“I think I know how much more comfortable it would be, how much more accommodating it would be when fans can get something to eat and drink in a reasonable amount of time,” Logan said. “You go to the restroom (there) and there’s enough restrooms. I think it’ll translate into our season, too.”
Despite the challenges the ballpark presents, fans seemed to be enjoying themselves throughout the weekend, especially the thousands of Cubs fans who packed the stadium both days.
“The stadium, being that it’s an older stadium, it’s nice,” Patrick Cornman, who came from Chicago, said. “I mean, the view is great.”
Of course, Cubs fans are fairly used to an old ballpark.
“We’re used to Wrigley, which, could it be any older?” Cubs fan Linda Streufert, who traveled from Chicago, said. “Sometimes I think everybody’s too into trying to be high-tech and stuff. Baseball is kind of an old-time game.”
Sharon Jannusch, who traveled with Streufert to Las Vegas, said the pair came to Las Vegas specifically to watch the Cubs play on Big League Weekend.
“It’s very exciting,” Jannusch said. “The whole mood is very exciting. There’s so many people (and) you see Cubs stuff and it makes you feel good about your team.”
Cubs fans went home happy after watching their team’s offense erupt for more than 10 runs each day, thanks in part to Las Vegan Kris Bryant, who finished 2 for 3 Saturday with a double and home run and 1 for 2 Sunday with a double. Logan said the event was great from their end, despite the shortcomings of the park.
“The beauty of it is the (LVCVA) does everything they can,” Logan said. “They’ve worked tirelessly in the last months. The field’s phenomenal, they painted everything, there’s new padding, they cleaned everything, steam-cleaned it.
“The place is as good as it can be. (Concessionaire) Centerplate’s first couple games, they did a good job with the food and beverage. You just make do with what we have to work with.”
Review-Journal reporter Brooke Wanser contributed to this story.
Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.
BIG LEAGUE WEEKEND AT THE GATES
Saturday’s attendance: 11,455
Sunday’s attendance: 11,285
Total attendance: 22,740
BIG LEAGUE BEATDOWN: CUBS DRUB REDS, 22-4
Anthony Rizzo hit a leadoff home run Sunday and the Chicago Cubs seemingly never stopped scoring after that.
The Cubs added five more runs in the first and kept tacking on more over the ensuing innings, beating the Cincinnati Reds 22-4 at Cashman Field in front of an announced crowd of 11,285 in the second of two Big League Weekend spring training games.
Albert Almora led the way for the Cubs, going 3 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs, while hometown favorite Kris Bryant was 1 for 2 with a double and a pair of walks.
In addition to their six-run first inning, the Cubs had an eight-run sixth, highlighted by Bijan Rademacher’s grand slam.