The Vamos a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta is back.
Four Mexican Pacific League teams — the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Yaquis de Obregon, Aguilas de Mexicali and Mayos de Navojoa — will square off between Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at Kino Stadium, part of their preseason training ahead of winter league play.
Hermosillo and Obregon are Fiesta mainstays, having appeared in all nine previous events in Tucson. The day-by-day schedules are expected to be released in the coming weeks, with tickets going on sale in mid-August.
The Fiesta's return is another sign of normalcy after the coronavirus pandemic knocked out nearly all local sports competition for much of 2020.
"Last year was a tough year. We missed putting on the Fiesta but we promise bigger and better things in 2021," said Francisco Gamez, the Fiesta's founder and partner and a longtime Mexican Pacific League player.
Visit Tucson says the Fiesta $1.5 million a year between hotel rooms, meals, concessions and more, making it the largest Hispanic sporting event in town.
This year's Fiesta will include the return of La Brissa, a popular Sonoran band that played in 2019.
Founded in 2011, the Mexican Baseball Fiesta has expanded to include games in other cities. Organizers are also planning to play games in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Mesa, and are talking to officials in Nogales and Douglas about hosting games.
Rafael Barceló Durazo, right, Mexican consul in Tucson, talks with Mexican Baseball Fiesta founder and partner Francisco Gamez, center right, owner of the Mayos de Navojoa Victor cuevas, left, and General Manager of the Naranjeros de Hermosillo Juan Aguirre before a press conference at Hooters, 7280 E. Broadway Blvd.
Photos: 2019 Mexican Baseball Fiesta in Tucson, Day 2
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Mexicali's catcher Berny Heras slaps the tag on Culiacan base runner Jose Angel Chavez on an unsuccessful double steal attempt to end the bottom of the fourth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan third baseman Efren Nieves can't hold onto a high twisty pop-foul by Mexicali's Juan Perez in the fifth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan's Jose Guadalupe Chavez lets go after reaching in the seventh inning against Mexicali in the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan's Sebastian Elizalde loosens up his throwing arm in the last of the day's light as the Tomateros get ready to face Mexicali on day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Mexicali's third baseman gets a high hop on a shot down the line by Culiacan's Javier Mireles that ended up just being the second out in the bottom of the second inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan's Javier Mireles skids across the dirt after getting tagged out with the potential winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the last play of a 10-10 tie in the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan second baseman Javier Mireles turns the pivot over a Mexicali baserunner for an inning ending double play in game one of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan shirtstop Jose Guadalupe Chavez loses control of grounder by Mexicali's Ricardo Serrano allowing runners to advance in the fifth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan's Sebastian Elizalde gets the high fives after mashing a grand slam to right to get the Tomateros up on Mexicali 8-7 in the sixth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Mexicali's right fielder slams into the fence after chasing down a long fly ball from Culiacan's Carlos Diaz that advanced a runner in the fourth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Mexicali's shortstop Daniel Castro tags Culiacan's Alfredo Hurtado as the two slide by one another on a stolen base attempt in the bottom of the fourth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Mexicali's second baseman loses the grip on the throw but still force Culiacan's Sebastian Elizalde back to first on a double steal attempt in the fifth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Mexicali's shortstop Daniel Castro can't get a handle on a ball off the bat of Culiacan's Joey Meneses that plated two runs in the first inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
Mexicali vs Culiacan
Updated
Culiacan third baseman Efren Nieves tracks down a dribbler into the hole by Mexicali's Daniel Castro that ended the top of the fifth inning of the opening game of day two of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 3, 2019.
