While the entire Cubs' spring training schedule has not yet been made public, today the Cubs announced that again in 2010, they and the White Sox will travel to Las Vegas during the spring campaign to play a pair of exhibition games. From the press release:
The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox will play two exhibition games in Las Vegas next March for the 2010 Big League Weekend at Cashman Field, home of the Las Vegas 51s. The clubs will play on Friday, March 12, 2010 and Saturday, March 13, 2010. Games times are to be determined. The Cubs and White Sox will both feature split squads.
Ticket information is available by calling the Las Vegas 51s at 702-798-7825 or visiting www.lv51.com. The Cubs and White Sox will play a pair of spring training games in Las Vegas for the second year in a row.
0 recs | 40 comments
Las Vegas
I assume that this means that the Cubs will not be ending their exhibition schedule in Las Vegas, as they had done to end their spring schedules for several years, prior to playing the exhibition games at Yankee Stadium this past season. The Twins will open Target Field with two exhibition games against the Cardinals. Any word on where the Cubs will go when they break camp in Mesa?
dmlichte - November 10, 2009
Have not heard anything yet.
Wow, those are going to be two really cold days in Minneapolis.
The Cubs open the season in Atlanta. They could go somewhere “en route” to Atlanta, or maybe stay in Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, as they did in 2003.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
Yup... cold indeed
The exhibition games are a necessity for any new ballpark. They host two games, see what goes right and goes wrong, then they have a week or so to fix anything ahead of the regular season opener. The Twins have the two games, then play at the Angels and White Sox before their regular season opener.
dmlichte - November 10, 2009
True on the necessity.
But fans will need to bring blankets. Lots of ’em.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
blankets...
… will be in order for most of the first month of the season at Target Field. I still cannot believe how much money was laid out for an outdoor only stadium in Minneapolis.
I do wonder if we may see the Cubs play two games in Florida before going to Atlanta to open the 2010 campaign. If Ricketts and Co are seriously interested in moving spring training to the Grapefruit League, this would be one serious indication. Cubs take on the Devil Rays at The Trop or some other Grapefruit League team at their home park.
dmlichte - November 10, 2009
Hmmm.
Possible, I suppose, but that’s a looooong flight from Phoenix. Then again, so was the flight to NYC last year.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
from Phoenix, ya...
… but if they’re opening the season in Atlanta, it makes some sense.
dmlichte - November 10, 2009
one of the Cubs' minor league affiliates could be "en route"
Tennessee or Daytona seems most likely.
ballhawk - November 10, 2009
They haven't played one of the minor league affiliates since 2001.
Unlikely.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
With new ownership, anything's possible
ballhawk - November 10, 2009
Hopefully...
Poo-holes plays in those exhibition games…and pulls a hamstring.
doc_blume - November 10, 2009
What is this
The 3rd grade?
StevenABQ - November 10, 2009
Is not. Is TOO. Is NOT! IS TOO!
So there…
(Somethings it feels that way…)
Zeke - November 11, 2009
Wedgies all around!
AndrewJStone - November 11, 2009
OT on the 51s ballpark: I found it strange that there isn't any mass transit there from the strip (or even the old downtown area)...
To get to the 51s’ park, you basically have to drive, cab there ($$$) there OR be willing to walk about a mile from the closest bus stop (in a pretty crappy section of town under a freeway). The park itself is nice, but if you don’t have a car to get to the game, you may not feel it’s worth the trip.
Zeke - November 10, 2009
I have never been there.
Haven’t heard a lot of good things about Cashman Field, either.
FWIW, although it says “times to be determined”, it’s likely to be a Friday night/Saturday afternoon thing.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
The field and immediate grounds of the ballpark are fine Al. Pretty nice by minor league standards.
It’s the surrounding area adjacent to the ballpark that is crappy.
There is even a “neon boneyard” next to the park where you can peer inside a cyclone fenced off area and see old Las Vegas business signs from buildings that have been torn down. Kind of interesting actually to see what passed for zoning approved “advertising” from years past. They are all just sitting there rusting away, but it is a slice of Americana I guess…
Zeke - November 10, 2009
Cashman is a great place for baseball
the only reason people bag on it is it is about 25 years old. Hmmm..some other fields are pretty old and seem to be doing ok.
VegasCubFan - November 11, 2009
Have you visited the neon boneyard?
Kinda cool
Zeke - November 11, 2009
you should come to Vegas for the games
VegasCubFan - November 11, 2009
MAYBE VEGAS COULD
use a People Mover like Motown ???? Gotta agree very poor set up to get around …
cubs north - November 10, 2009
no doubt
getting to Cashman from any tourist spots in Vegas is not pleasant. It is one sketchy neighborhood between Cashman and downtown LV.
VegasCubFan - November 11, 2009
I walked it twice for games from old downtown while I was in town for a convention. Sketchy is a good word for it.
Shows how much I love to sit in casinos. I’d rather go to a ballgame in the fresh air and drink beer thank you very much.
Zeke - November 11, 2009
Actually they DO have a people mover from one end of the strip to the other.
The problem is it runs from the MGM Grand to the Hilton Convention Center only. It doesn’t even do downtown. Shuttle busses run along the strip and go into the old downtown part of Vegas, but the end of the shuttle run is still a mile or more short of Cashman Field.
Zeke - November 11, 2009
Cubs Spring Training Schedule
Even though the Cubs and several other teams (D’Backs, Rangers, etc.) have not announced their Spring Training schedules yet, one can fill in some of the schedule based on what dates have been announced by other teams. Here is a compilation:
MARCH 6 White Sox @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 7 Dodgers @ Cubs (ss) Mesa
MARCH 8 Cubs @ A’s Phoenix
MARCH 9 Brewers @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 10 Giants @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 12 Cubs (ss) @ Brewers Maryvale
MARCH 12 White Sox (ss) @ Cubs (ss) Las Vegas
MARCH 13 Reds @ Cubs (ss) Mesa
MARCH 12 Cubs (ss) @ White Sox (ss) Las Vegas
MARCH 14 Cubs (ss) @ Angels Tempe
MARCH 15 Cubs @ Rockies Tucson
MARCH 18 Cubs @ Dodgers Glendale
MARCH 19 Cubs @ White Sox Glendale
MARCH 20 Cubs (ss) @ A’s Phoenix
MARCH 21 Cubs (ss) @ Reds Goodyear
MARCH 22 Indians @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 28 Cubs @ Mariners Peoria
MARCH 29 Reds @ Cubs Mesa
MARCH 30 Cubs @ Giants Scottsdale
MARCH 31 Cubs @ Brewers Maryvale
azjazzman - November 10, 2009
That's what I have so far.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
Here is more info.
From the Las Vegas 51s website. That site includes this photo:
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
There as SOOOOOO many jokes I could post from this picture...
Zeke - November 10, 2009
Go ahead.
That’s kind of why I posted it.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
"I'm a dancer. I can dance."
ballhawk - November 10, 2009
Baseball in an alternative universe
eths - November 10, 2009
LOL....
…. I love that commercial.
cooliogirl47 - November 10, 2009
I know....
….reply is my friend
cooliogirl47 - November 10, 2009
Al, a question about the games in Vegas:
Since I land in Phoenix early on the 12th, I wonder if the majority of the Split Squad, i.e. better players, will go to Vegas or stay home to avoid the travel. When I get off the plane I want to sit in the sun and see some baseball, just wondered what you thought on who would be left to play at Maryvale and against the Reds. Thanks!
mrcubsfan - November 10, 2009
Usually they'll bring at least half the regulars to Vegas...
… because otherwise, the Vegas people won’t get the high ticket prices they want to charge.
Exactly WHO will go and who won’t? Impossible to say at this time.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
it was split squads last year
VegasCubFan - November 11, 2009
MESA 2010....
Our group flies into PHX on 3/11 . The last thing I want to do is jump into a car for a 310 mlle drive . We are staying local going to Maryvale, Hohokam, Tempe that weekend . Gotta think the weather in Mesa might be a bit better .
cubs north - November 11, 2009
Any idea when regular season game times will be announced?
N/t
Chanman25 - November 10, 2009 via mobile
Hard to say.
When I get ‘em, I’ll post them in the BCB schedule link on the left sidebar.
Al Yellon - November 10, 2009
excellent
looks like I’m finally returning to Chicago this summer in late June for three games. Can’t wait
Chanman25 - November 11, 2009
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