Las Vegas Aviators

The Las Vegas Aviators are the Oakland Athletics' Triple-A affiliate, playing in the stunning Las Vegas Ballpark in the Summerlin community. Formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s, the franchise rebranded as the Aviators in 2019 to honor the aviation legacy of Howard Hughes, whose eponymous corporation owned the team. The name change coincided with the move into their new $150 million ballpark, one of the finest facilities in all of minor league baseball.

Las Vegas Ballpark, which opened in April 2019, seats 10,000 fans with a capacity that can expand to 12,000. The state-of-the-art venue features a swimming pool, party decks, and views of the Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon, creating a game-day atmosphere unmatched at the Triple-A level. The ballpark is owned by Seaport Entertainment Group, which was spun off from the Howard Hughes Corporation in 2024.

Manager Fran Riordan has been the face of the franchise's on-field leadership, entering his ninth season at the helm for 2026. A three-time Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year (2019, 2023, 2025), Riordan guided the Aviators to the 2025 PCL championship, though they fell to Jacksonville in the Triple-A National Championship Game.

The franchise has a rich history dating back to 1983 when it began play as the Las Vegas Stars in the PCL. Through various name changes — Stars, 51s, and now Aviators — Las Vegas has been a consistent presence in the Pacific Coast League, developing players for organizations including the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and now the Athletics.