Mexican baseball teams to again play in Utah as part of cultural exchange initiative

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Two Mexican baseball teams return to Utah to play in October, in an effort aimed at bolstering Utah-Mexico ties.
Utah Sen. Luz Escamilla said the games will serve to strengthen the relationship between Utah and Mexico.
The games last year, coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month, drew 8,000-9,000 fans.

SOUTH JORDAN — A pair of Mexican baseball teams will travel to Utah once again to play for fans here as part of a cultural exchange initiative meant in part to bolster Utah-Mexico ties.

"We're proud to celebrate the second year of Béisbol en Salt Lake, bringing our community together through the joy of sports and continuing to strengthen the relationship between the state of Utah and Mexico," said Utah Sen. Luz Escamilla, who spoke at a press conference Tuesday to announce the plans. "After the energy and enthusiasm of last year's game, the excitement for this year is even greater."

Los Venados de Mazatlán and Los Charros de Jalisco, teams that compete in the Mexican Pacific League, a professional winter baseball league in northwestern Mexico, will come to Utah in October to play at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan. Games are scheduled for Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, with additional entertainment planned to coincide with the matchups.

The two teams came to Salt Lake City last year to play at Smith's Ballpark, which was replaced by the Ballpark at America First Square this year as the home of the Salt Lake Bees. The games last year drew around 8,000-9,000 fans and, as with this year's planned activities, were timed with Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Two Mexican baseball teams will travel to Utah for a pair of games on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, part of the Béisbol en Salt Lake initiative. The photo shows some of the action at last year's Béisbol en Salt Lake program. (Photo: Miller Sports and Entertainment)

"The presence of Mexican baseball teams in Salt Lake City is a powerful example of how sports strengthen the bonds between our communities and countries," said Eduardo Baca, consul general at the Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake City. "Baseball is part of Mexico's soul, and seeing our talented athletes shine on international fields fills us with pride. We celebrate the competitive spirit, the passion for the game and the talent that unite us on the field."

Michelle Smith, president of Miller Sports + Entertainment, offered similarly enthusiastic comments. Miller Sports + Entertainment manages the Salt Lake Bees and the South Jordan baseball stadium and is the host and organizer of the event. "It will be an exciting weekend celebrating Hispanic culture in Utah and watching two extremely talented professional baseball teams," she said.

Baseball isn't the only focus of outreach to the Mexican and Mexican-American sports fanbase in Utah. The Mexican national soccer team traveled to Utah to play the Swiss team at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on June 7, losing 4-2 to the European team.

Ticket prices for the baseball games in October start at $15.

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