51s’ Logan clings to dream of new park

Don Logan has learned to deal with frustration the way a Los Angeles commuter does traffic. He endures it.

But there are times when the 51s president becomes annoyed beyond the standard level: when all those Albuquerque Isotopes fans were buying dreadlock wigs like Elaine Benes would sponges, for instance.

Logan knows it could have happened here. The sellout crowds. The merchandise bonanza. The national media presence. The record revenue rise of all rehab stops.

He knows Cashman Field could have offered its own version of Mannywood, if only the structure wasn't a dump with fewer toilets than a studio apartment.

"He would have played here for more than two games," Logan said. "I guarantee that."

It is estimated the Isotopes made in the neighborhood of $500,000 above what a normal two-game stretch would have produced when Manny Ramirez swung for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. That doesn't begin to include the publicity such a stop created.

For a few nights last week, the best thing about Albuquerque wasn't a freeway sign pointing toward Santa Fe.

The female fertility drug-using outfielder that is Ramirez didn't board a Southwest flight headed here, the Dodgers having fled Las Vegas after last season when it appeared construction of a new ballpark was as imminent as a mandatory last call.

"There are only a handful of guys who would generate that kind of business for us, and Manny is one," Logan said. "We were talking the other day about if Roy Halladay made a rehab start here (for Toronto). He is arguably the best pitcher in the game, but he's not one of those guys. The 'it' guys.

"I asked the Dodgers' people point blank that if we had a new facility or had been transitioning toward one, would they still be here? The answer was absolutely yes."

Logan's dissatisfaction with Cashman will intensify a bit tonight, if only for the reminder of what others in the state have.

Reno opens a three-game series at the 51s, the same Reno that plays its home games at Aces Ballpark, the new $50 million downtown facility with skyboxes and lavish suites and beautiful picnic areas and enough restrooms that you won't miss three innings on a night of discounted beer prices.

In other words, everything Cashman doesn't have.

Logan can't control that after he was part of a group that in 2003 convinced the state legislature a rental car tax increase could help fund ballparks both here and in Reno, the money slated for Southern Nevada's project instead went to build and maintain a performing arts center and culinary institute.

He can't control that while the city and LVCVA agreed to solicit offers to sell the Cashman site with the provision any buyer would contribute to the construction of a new downtown ballpark, the economy soon after took a bigger dive than Chris Brown's reputation and financers pushed the pause button on all major investments.

But what he can do is alter the opinion of influential minds when it comes to somehow making major strides toward his dream of a new ballpark.

He seems to be turning one of those most prominent.

Logan will tour Aces Ballpark when the 51s are in Reno next week with a Las Vegas-based group that will include Oscar Goodman, a mayor who steadfastly maintains his desire to deliver this city a major league sports franchise more than a Triple-A ballpark.

But dreadful economic times have a way of softening even the most persistent minds.

"(Logan) insists that once I see the ballpark up in Reno, the first thing I'm going to say is, 'We need one of these in Las Vegas,' " Goodman said. "I think (51s owner) Derek Stevens is a man of great substance and vision. In some capacity, the city would be happy to partner with them to develop a first-class baseball stadium.

"I want to do what's best for the community. I don't want to see Las Vegas without baseball. I'm willing to talk. I do, however, feel very confident that had the economy not cratered, we would have an arena at this time and been in serious negotiations to bring a major league sports franchise or two here."

But it did crater. And although the downtown ballpark Logan envisions would still probably bring a price tag near $50 million, having Goodman and city hall sturdily behind such a vision can only benefit his pursuit.

"It's not like we just came up with the idea," Logan said. "The economy has to come back. Not coming back isn't an option."

He is slowly changing influential minds.

His dream is not yet dead.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.