RENO, Nev. (AP) - Construction crews put the last iron beam in place ahead of schedule today at Reno's new riverfront baseball park.

And officials for the Reno Aces say the stadium will be ready for the Triple A team's opener in the Pacific Coast League on April 17.

Owner Stuart Katzoff showed off the emerging stadium today to Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, Sparks Mayor Gino Martini and media in hardhats as crane operators put the beams in place and crews poured concrete in the grandstand.

Cashell says he thinks the $50 million will revitalize downtown. It sits on the southeast edge of the casino district. The Truckee River runs past the grass berm in right field where general admission access will cost $7.

Dugouts are in place and 20-foot outfield walls already surround much of the field sunk 18 feet below street level.

Katzoff says the tall walls are needed to help keep some long balls from sailing out of the park. He says they travel farther at the elevation of 4,500 feet, plus the fences are inviting at 340 feet down the lines, 400 feet to straight away center and 420 feet to a nook in the right-center alley.

He says the layout reminds him of Boston's Fenway Park because it's tight and fans will be right on top of the action.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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