Tossing First Ball in Cathedral City

If you build it, they will come--to Cathedral City. At least that’s what developers hope will happen when they open replicas of three famous ballparks in that desert community on Jan. 5.

Although the 30-acre complex, called Big League Dreams Sports Park, includes soccer fields, a roller-hockey rink and basketball and sand volleyball courts, by far its biggest draw is likely to be scaled-down replicas of Chicago’s Wrigley Field, New York’s Yankee Stadium and Boston’s Fenway Park. The diamonds themselves are about three-fourths scale, but each park seats about 2,500, according to co-owner Jeff Odekirk.

Odekirk, 32, and his brother, Rick, 40, combining their twin passions of sports and real estate, leased the land from the city and spent about $5 million to build the complex. The admission charge consists of a $1 token, bought at the gate and redeemable for food at the concession stand; children under 12 are free. Visitors can watch local-league baseball and softball games; join in pick-up games of basketball, volleyball or roller hockey; and eat at the restaurant.

Jan. 11, the Pepsi All-Star Softball Challenge, a charity game featuring players such as Dodger Mike Piazza, will be held at “Wrigley Field”; tickets are $7. Information: telephone (760) 324-5600.