Big League Weekend gets big-time sellout

League Weekend with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds on March 25 and 26.

Tickets went on sale at noon, both at the box office and online. By early afternoon, the two games were sold out.

“I was here last year. I know how it works. If you’re not one of the first people in line, you don’t get tickets,” Collins said. “I’m a big Cubs fan. Got to go see the Cubs when they come to Vegas, so that’s why I’m down here.”

About 50 people were in line around 11:30 a.m. and tickets were limited to four per order, both online and in person. The available tickets, after presale, went fast.

It’s not the first time the 51s have sold out the weekend on the first day, but an avid interest in the Cubs, especially following their World Series victory last season, helped tickets go quickly.

“I think there’s a heightened enthusiasm this year that we haven’t seen in past years and obviously winning the World Series is a big part of it,” 51s president Don Logan said. “I think Kris Bryant is a big part of that, having been the MVP, being a Vegas guy (Bonanza High product), he really lived up to all the hype on the biggest stage.”

The weekend draws not only Las Vegans but plenty of people from Chicago. This is the 13th consecutive year the Cubs have participated.

Most of the people lined up at the box office on Monday were Cubs fans, with many decked out in team gear, though there were a few Reds fans sprinkled in.

Pete Rampino, one of the many in line, had been a Reds season ticket-holder in the past.

But he is from Massachusetts and is a Red Sox fan and doesn’t have a particular rooting interest for Big League Weekend; he just wants to see good baseball.

“We had this on our calendar as soon as we saw it in the (Review-Journal). It’s something great for the whole city of Las Vegas because there’s so many people here,” Rampino said. “I wish they’d do it more than once.” Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.