By Damon Hodge
From shoe repairers, science fiction aficio-
nados and fashionistas to porn stars, real
estate agents and Hula-Hoop lovers, con-
ventioneers of all types come to Las Vegas.
America’s baseball and softball players
can now be added to that list. Since Big
League Dreams Sports Park opened Jan.
25, hundreds of teenage players, recre-
ational whiffers and serious competitors
have come to town to lace up the cleats
and compete.
Sell Your Clients the Latest from Vegas.
When it comes to new attractions, restaurants and hotels, no one brings more to the table than
Las Vegas. Here’s a small sampling of activities and must-see performers to tempt your clients with.
The six fields at Big League Dreams Sports Park each rep-
licate a famous Major League Baseball stadium.
For the foodies
Send your clients to Vegas Uncork’d – the nation’s premier epicurean event taking place
May 6 – 9, 2010. It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to mingle with more than 50 of the world’s
greatest chefs at 30 different events. While your clients are here, they can check out some
of the city’s newest restaurants. The brainchild of Eva Longoria Parker and Todd English, Beso
is a contemporary steak house with Latin flair now open in Crystals at CityCenter. A bit more
casual is Hussong’s Cantina – an Ensenada, Mexico, institution, now open in The Shoppes at
Mandalay Place.
For the live-music lovers
Are any of your clients country music fans? Country’s biggest superstars will once again gather
in Las Vegas for the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18 at MGM’s
Grand Garden Arena. And you’ll definitely want to tell your “fanilows” that legendary singer-
songwriter Barry Manilow just opened his new show at Paris Las Vegas. Other recording
artists coming to town soon include Sugarland, Santana and Daughtry.
Where to stay
No other city in the world gives you more than 148,000 hotel rooms to choose from. Some
of the city’s newest can be found in the Hard Rock Hotel’s all-suite HRH Tower. This tower’s
got more than suites and penthouses. It’s also where your clients will find the new Vanity
nightclub and Reliquary Spa.
nati Reds, which closed in 1970. Scaled to
three-fourths the size of the originals, the
replicas include each field’s nuances, from
Fenway’s Green Monster left-field wall to
the scoreboard placement at Wrigley.
Located inside Freedom Park on the
city’s east side, the Las Vegas park is the
10th facility run by Cathedral City, Calif.-
based Big League Dreams. Judging by ear-
ly interest, officials think it could soon be
one of the best-performing parks in the
company. Jeff Odekirk, whose family co-
owns the facility with the Giambi family
of pro baseball fame, said the company
has had its eye on a Las Vegas location for
more than 14 years.
“We knew this would be a good location
because Las Vegas meets all the criteria:
good year-round weather, large popula-
tion and it’s a tourist destination,” he said.
“We’ve already filled the 2010 tournament
schedule.”
With so much going on, there’s always an excuse to send your clients to Vegas. To get the latest on
what’s happening, go to
VisitLasVegas.com. For current booking incentives and Commissionable Vegas
opportunities go to
LVCVA.com.
LAS VEGAS
▼
UPDATE
According to Big League Dreams, mil-
lions of adult softball and youth baseball
players have used Big League Dreams
since the original facility opened in 1997.
The parks have won awards, including
best sports complex in America (Sports
Complex Owners and Developers Asso-
ciation), best public/private partnership
(League of California Cities) and business
of the year in Cathedral City.
Rather than being yet another leisure
option for visiting conventioneers, Ed
Farmer, general manager of Big League
Dreams Las Vegas, said the facility actu-
ally drives tourism.
He estimates that more than 300,000
people will use the facility this year. Usage
and attendance at all the parks topped 3
million last year.
