Cashman Field prepares for historic farewell

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- After decades of memories, Cashman Field is coming down and this morning Good Day Las Vegas' JC Fernandez was live inside the historic stadium looking back at its past and previewing Saturday's Las Vegas Lights FC match, the final event ever at Cashman Field before the site makes way for redevelopment.

JC was joined by Will Martin, the Lights' director of marketing and communications, who talked about Cashman's history, which dates back to 1947, when the original stadium was built as Elks Stadium. The modern Cashman Field opened on April 1, 1983, with a Major League Baseball exhibition between the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.

The stadium became home to the minor league baseball team, the Las Vegas Stars, who played there from 1983 through 2000, followed by the Las Vegas 51s, from 2001 through 2018, and eventually the Las Vegas Aviators. The Lights arrived in 2018, adding professional soccer to Cashman's long sporting history.

The venue also has a Raiders connection. Long before the team called Las Vegas home, the Oakland Raiders faced the Houston Oilers at the original Cashman Field in a 1964 American Football League preseason game. Oakland won 34-20.

Martin also recalled a May 1955 boxing match between Archie Moore and Nino Valdes, with Moore winning a 15-round decision. Baseball brought its own milestone in 1993, when a Chicago White Sox–Chicago Cubs exhibition drew more than 15,000 fans, setting Cashman's attendance record.

Beyond sports, JC highlighted Cashman's concert history, including appearances by the Beach Boys, Ice Cube and Metallica. While Metallica fans can now catch the band at Sphere, JC noted that tickets for its September 1998 Cashman show started at just $30.

The focus then shifted to Cashman's final night. Las Vegas Lights FC will host Lexington SC on Saturday, October 17, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Martin showcased a miniature replica of the stadium that will be given away to early arriving fans while supplies last.

Plus, fans will see fireworks before the match and a light show afterward. With a sellout expected, Martin encouraged fans to purchase tickets in advance.