The Cubs are headed back to Las Vegas next spring

The Cubs have played exhibition games in Las Vegas during spring training in 17 previous seasons, including 14 in a row from 2005-18. The “Big League Weekend,” as the Vegas folks call it, was cancelled last year due to construction of the new Triple-A park there, Las Vegas Ballpark (pictured above).

Tuesday, it was announced that the Cubs are headed back there in March 2020 — but their appearance will be one of two “Big League Weekend” events in Las Vegas next spring:

Opening weekend will have the Cleveland Indians taking on the Oakland Athletics Feb. 29 – March 1 with games starting at 1:05 p.m.

The second weekend features the Cincinnati Reds facing the Chicago Cubs from March 7-8 at 1:05 p.m.

The Cubs will also be playing spring games in the Phoenix area that weekend, March 7 vs. the Indians at Goodyear and March 8 vs. the Diamondbacks at Sloan Park, so the team they send to Las Vegas will be a split squad.

The Cubs are always a popular draw in Las Vegas, according to Don Logan, President/COO of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, who host the event:

The Cubs have recorded a total of 22 sellouts over 14 seasons (2005-18) in their annual Big League Weekend visits to Cashman Field.

“The fans, both locally and the tourists that visit during this event, will have a memorable time. The Cubs continue to have such a tremendous nationwide fan-base and Las Vegas has become a ‘second’ Spring Training home for them,” Logan said.

This article says you can buy ticket packages now by calling the Aviators at 702-939-7200, and individual game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

I’ve never been to Big League Weekend, as I’m in the Phoenix area for all of spring training and that’s kind of a long trip for two baseball games. But if you’re thinking about going to Vegas anyway around that time of year, it might be fun to see the Cubs play there as well.