Ontario Tower Buzzers Debut at New ONT Field

The city's new Single-A minor league baseball team kicks off its inaugural season with high expectations from the community.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an abstract baseball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of bright blue, red, and white colors representing the Ontario Tower Buzzers and Dodgers uniforms.The debut of the Ontario Tower Buzzers at their new home field showcases the team's Dodgers affiliation and the city's aviation-inspired stadium design.Ontario Today

Excitement is building for the debut of the Ontario Tower Buzzers, the city's new Single-A minor league baseball team, as they prepare to open their inaugural season at the aviation-themed ONT Field. The team, affiliated with the Dodgers, features up-and-coming prospects, and the community response has exceeded expectations with sold-out opening night tickets and brisk merchandise sales.

Why it matters

The arrival of the Ontario Tower Buzzers represents a significant milestone for the city, bringing professional baseball to the area and providing a platform for young talent to showcase their skills. The team's connection to the Dodgers also generates excitement among fans eager to catch a glimpse of future major league stars.

The details

The Ontario Tower Buzzers will play their first game at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, with groundskeepers spending the day preparing the field for the big event. The team's general manager, Allan Benavides, expressed the organization's focus on honoring the Dodgers affiliation while creating a welcoming experience for fans, including special promotions and giveaways. Manager John Shoemaker emphasized the opportunity for players to separate themselves and potentially reach the major leagues.

  • The Ontario Tower Buzzers will play their inaugural game on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • Tickets for future games start at $5.

The players

Allan Benavides

The general manager of the Ontario Tower Buzzers, who has expressed excitement about the team's debut and the community's response.

John Shoemaker

The manager of the Ontario Tower Buzzers, who has emphasized the opportunity for players to advance to the major leagues.

Casey Hagan

The senior associate architect with Populous, the firm that designed the aviation-themed ONT Field.

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What they’re saying

“On a scale from 1 to 10 it's 100 right. We've all been yearning for this day. Now that it's finally here, there's a lot of nerves. Did we plan everything? Is the music right? The promotions? The giveaways? But just so excited to open this gorgeous stadium.”

— Allan Benavides, General Manager, Ontario Tower Buzzers

“I have never seen so much excitement for a minor league team like I've seen here in Ontario. Ontario has stepped up! They have shown up. We have crazy ticket sales, crazy merch sales.”

— Allan Benavides, General Manager, Ontario Tower Buzzers

“To see that future Dodger stars are playing right here in Ontario is really special. We honor that making sure we take care of the players and do the right promotions, and making sure all fans have a good time.”

— Allan Benavides, General Manager, Ontario Tower Buzzers

“Baseball is not an easy sport and sometimes the lifeline of a minor leaguer isn't that long, and somehow, you have to separate yourself from the others if you're going to get to Dodger Stadium.”

— John Shoemaker, Manager, Ontario Tower Buzzers

“One of the greatest features I think at the stadium is just the integration of the local culture and the local industries. We have so much aviation theme in Ontario. Just as one of bigger airports in California.”

— Casey Hagan, Senior Associate Architect, Populous

What’s next

The Ontario Tower Buzzers will play their inaugural game on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at ONT Field.

The takeaway

The debut of the Ontario Tower Buzzers represents an exciting new chapter for the city, bringing professional baseball and the opportunity to witness the development of future Dodgers stars. The community's enthusiastic response underscores the team's potential to become a beloved local institution.