04/24/24
July 03, 2011
Dayton Dragons Sell Out 815th Straight Game: The Class A minor league Dayton Dragons have set a record with their 815th straight sellout, breaking a U.S. sports attendance record set by the Portland Trail Blazers from 1977 to 1995. "When Joey [Votto] and I played there, people told me that if you never make the majors, this is as close as you will ever come,” said former player Chris Dickerson, now with the New York Yankees. "It's no surprise they’re about to break the record."
Isn't there a problem when the "entertainment" drowns out the baseball? This is a great story of Rust Belt recovery, but it seems that the baseball is lost in all of the gimmicks.
posted by Bag Man at 03:46 PM on July 03, 2011
As a Daytonian (I live in a suburb of Dayton), this is a great accomplishment. When there was first talk of having a minor league team here, there was a lot of negativity about how well it could do (too close to Cincinnati, the park was going to be in depressed neighborhood near downtown, no one would feel safe, the economy of Dayton was on the downturn, etc, etc). I've gone to a lot games (we have season tickets in a group from my girlfriends work) and it's a first class organization and ball park. And a note too for those not from around here, the capacity is over 4000, its not like they're only getting a small amount for every game--and the Dragons haven't always been competitive either (last year they went a whole month without winning at home). It's nice to see them getting national attention for this mark--a job well done (and the hopefully, they can continue to add to the mark for years to come)
posted by jagsnumberone at 03:53 PM on July 03, 2011
The company that owns the Dragons also owns the Frisco RoughRiders here in Dallas. They do seem to know how to run a baseball operation. Yes, there is some side entertainment, however the baseball is never a secondary consideration. Dollar for dollar, give me minor league ball over the major league product any day.
posted by dviking at 08:40 PM on July 03, 2011
it seems that the baseball is lost in all of the gimmicks.
As someone who'd listened, then watched the major leagues, going to an A-ball game was a revelation in how everything had a commercial tie-in. Without big money sponsors, the nature of minor league baseball runs on half-inning sponsorships by Rusty's Rust Emporium or Bring Your Hamster To The Game Night.
posted by etagloh at 10:36 PM on July 04, 2011
Agreed. I'm in an Internet society that's involved in an English non-Football League soccer team. Watched a few matches on the Internet; there's something about a match in front of 2,000 local fans in a small-town stadium with sponsors such a local betting parlor or grocery store. It's cozy.
posted by jjzucal at 10:55 PM on July 04, 2011
And a note too for those not from around here, the capacity is over 4000, The Dragons average 8,375 fans per game, or 116% of capacity. The Dragons have been the top Class A team in attendance every year of their existence
A lot of up and coming players that ended up playing for the Reds started in Dayton and it's a great way to see major league talent up close before they make the big leagues.
Yep. From the same link.
Many former Dragons players have gone on to play in the MLB. Some notable players include:
Austin Kearns (2000)
Jos Acevedo (2000)
Ray Olmedo (2000)
Adam Dunn (2000)
John Koronka (2001)
Wily Mo Pea (2001)
Edwin Encarnacion (20012002)
Todd Coffey (20022003)
Miguel Perez (20032004)
Joey Votto (20032004)
Chris Dickerson (2004)
Homer Bailey (2005)
Johnny Cueto (2006)
Jay Bruce (2006)
Logan Ondrusek (2006)
Drew Stubbs (2007)
The bastards won't let me bring in my own peanuts, though. Amazing how many you can fit in cargo shorts, however.
posted by tselson at 10:34 PM on July 06, 2011
Thanks tselson for clearing up the attendence thing (It was a typo on my part and didn't catch it until now)--which even brings home my point even more with them bringing in over 8000 (not 4000) per game-which is great for single A ball!!!
posted by jagsnumberone at 02:00 AM on July 07, 2011
No problem, jags.
Went to the game on Saturday night. Why? It's what my girls wanted to do for my b-day. The big 4-0. A few thoughts: I've always taken the kids (son 20, daughters 14 and 12 and oops another son 9 months) to Dragons games and Reds games.
For younger fans the Dragons games are just so much more fun, you are so much closer to the game, the entertainment is geared much more to the younger crowd etc. They do a lot of really fun things for the kids. The kids don't know that the Reds should by default be more entertaining because it's the majors.
It get's them excited about going to a ballgame. That works for me.
Back to Saturday. It was pretty cool. Once the game was official, they stopped it for about ten minutes and did a sweet condensed history of the stadium and team coming to Dayton and the resulting sell out record. Fun night all around. Dragons games always are. Reds...oof hurts too much when Cordero blows save.
posted by tselson at 12:04 AM on July 12, 2011
Southwest Ohio is a real hotbed for sports, football and baseball especially (OKC Thunder player Daequan Cook is from Dayton as well). The atmosphere at 5/3rd field is great and in spite of Dayton's economic downturn they've been able to maintain this streak. There are a lot of corporate ticket sales to Dragons games as well. A lot of up and coming players that ended up playing for the Reds started in Dayton and it's a great way to see major league talent up close before they make the big leagues.