Mexican "Béisbol" exhibition coming to Salt Lake City
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
A celebration of Mexican baseball is coming to Smith's Ballpark, and it might be one of the stadium's last major events.
State of play: Two Mexican Pacific League baseball teams — Venados de Mazatlán and Los Charros de Jalisco — will face off in two exhibition games Oct. 5–6 during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Why it matters: The Salt Lake Bees finish their final season at Smith's Ballpark in September before moving to South Jordan — the end of the beloved team's 30-year run in the neighborhood.
- The "Beisbol en Salt Lake" event will act as a "send-off for the ballpark," Salt Lake Bees spokesperson Kraig Williams told Axios.
Between the lines: Plans for the stadium's site have not been solidified as city leaders consider its future.
- The city launched the "Ballpark NEXT" design competition last summer to reimagine the 13.5 acres of land.
- Winners of the competition pitched a "world-class center for women's sports," a biodome garden and an open market for the space.
Catch up quick: The "Beisbol" event came together after Edgar González, a former Major League Baseball player and Fox Deportes analyst, heard that Salt Lake City was campaigning for an MLB expansion team last year, Williams said.
- González suggested bringing Mexican baseball to the city to his friend, state Sen. Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake City), who called the Salt Lake Bee's parent company Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment about the idea.
What they're saying: "It's just a chance to showcase a different brand of baseball," Williams said.
The big picture: The baseball tournament will also act as a celebration of Latino culture, and feature a block party, food and drone show.
- Salt Lake City's Hispanic population has increased by 118% since 2000, per census data. Today, nearly 1 in 5 Salt Lake City residents are Hispanic.
- As Utah's Hispanic population grows, so will the interest in baseball, a popular sport in several Latin American countries, Williams noted.
Worth your time: Single-game tickets are available for $15.