Ontario Tower Buzzers

The Ontario Tower Buzzers represent a rare event in modern Minor League Baseball: a true expansion franchise entering the California League in 2026. The team replaces the Modesto Nuts in the league structure, bringing Dodgers Single-A baseball to the rapidly growing Inland Empire region east of Los Angeles.

The Tower Buzzers' name and identity draw from Ontario's deep aviation heritage and its proximity to Ontario International Airport. The name references the famous "buzz the tower" scene from the 1986 film Top Gun, while the team's primary mascot — a bee in aviator gear named Maverick — blends aviation iconography with playful energy. The branding, developed with input from the community, connects the franchise to Ontario's identity as a city built on aviation and transportation.

ONT Field, a 6,000-seat stadium designed by Populous, anchors the Ontario Sports Empire — a 199-acre, multi-phase regional sports and entertainment complex developed by the City of Ontario. The complex includes youth diamonds, multipurpose fields, retail, and a hotel village, making it one of the most ambitious minor league ballpark developments in recent memory. Under inaugural manager John Shoemaker, the Tower Buzzers open their first home game on April 2, 2026 against the Lake Elsinore Storm, marking the beginning of a new chapter for baseball in Southern California's Inland Empire.