Ontario, California
⚾ Ontario Tower Buzzers

The California League saw a seismic shift in 2026 and, in a game of musical chairs, the storied Modesto Nuts made their way down to SoCal. There, they would transform into the new incarnation of the Inland Empire 66ers, who found themselves sliding over to Rancho Cucamonga. It was this team – the displaced Quakes, Single-A affiliate of the Dodgers – who would christen a new ballpark nearby and become the Ontario Tower Buzzers.

The franchise was named for the city’s aviation history, with Ontario International Airport less than five miles away and a World War II air base nearby too. It’s also a nod to a line in the 1986 movie Top Gun, where Maverick – played by Tom Cruise – says, “Sorry Goose, but it’s time to buzz the tower.” The team’s apropos bee mascot is also named Maverick in honor of the movie.

These deep aviation roots are encapsulated in the aesthetic of ONT Field, named for and sponsored by the local airport. The theme is on full display, from stadium workers being dressed like gate attendants to the left-field concourse designed like a runway that lights up during home runs. A model of a vintage plane sits beyond the outfield fence, while a live flight board of ONT departures and arrivals sits inside the team store. The stadium safety video mimics that of an airplane, and home-team pitching changes use the classic cockpit bell followed by an announcement to “buzz the tower.” Some of the seating bowl even simulates first-class seating with large, cushioned seats, while the Baggage Hall acts a concession area complete with a bar and a hangout spot featuring a decommissioned luggage cart right outside. The exterior of the ballpark also boasts a large “Arrivals” sign to welcome fans into the stadium.

Beyond the aviation theme, the Buzzers pay homage to their parent club with a 60-foot-tall hexagonal videoboard, a near replica of the historic scoreboards that adorn Dodger Stadium just 40 miles to the west.

On the left-field wall is a massive mural of Fernando Valenzuela, created by famed Southern California street artist Jonas Never. Valenzuela, known as “El Toro”, played for the Dodgers between 1980 and 1990, was a six-time All-Star, captured two World Series championships with the team and is the only player in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season. The mural captures five poses of Valenzuela, including one of him wearing a San Antonio Dodgers hat – the old Double-A affiliate of the franchise – reminding minor-league players that the road to the show is within reach.

The Tower Buzzers, meanwhile, are already off to a hot start, making the playoffs in their inaugural season. Despite being swept in two games by the Lake Elsinore Storm, the team’s on- and off-the-field success will continue to expand as the ballpark anchors the Ontario Sports Empire District. This mixed-use development, which features a giant parking deck with a 152-by-51-foot LED video board, a 227-room hotel and a sports complex featuring nearly 50 coordinated fields, will ensure that the Ontario Tower Buzzers keep soaring to new heights.

Listen to my interview with Mario Ramos, voice behind the former Modesto Nuts, as we discuss the team’s time in Modesto and the California League shuffle. ⬇️