Welcome to the Gem City. The Dragons rule the castle when it comes to consecutive sellouts among all professional North American sports clubs at 1, straight games with the stands packed to the brim. Since Minor League Baseball returned to Dayton in , they have gone on an unprecedented streak that was only interrupted by cancellation of the games themselves. The franchise bested the all-time U. While the Cincinnati Red Stockings have been long established in baseball lore for their stature as the first professional club, Dayton -- just a quick shot up I away -- has a considerable lineage of its own.
Decades before the Interstate system connected the two cities, the Dayton Gem Citys played their first professional season in in the Ohio State League. The city went on to field teams with seven additional monikers including the Reds through the campaign, traversing the annals of pro ball in one form or another.
Then came the Dragons. Reds crossed state lines and rejuvenated pro ball in western Ohio. If you needed a direct parallel of how connected Dayton and the national pastime are, consider that the city itself was named for Jonathan Dayton, a founding father who was the youngest person to have signed the U. While Dayton never so much as visited Dayton, he did own a considerable chunk of land nearby in the Great Miami River basin. Capacity: 6, stadium seats, with room for over 8, fans in the ballpark Dimensions: left field, feet; center field, feet; right field, feet.
When the gates opened on April 27, , to usher in a new era of baseball in Dayton, the yard was called Fifth Third Field, and it was known that way until the pandemic-canceled campaign. Feeling bold enough to step inside the Dragons Lair? Well, if you're traveling with a group, you can get dibs on the Kona Big Wave Dragons Lair section, which comes complete with a ballpark food buffet and souvenirs.
Travel toward the outfield and the party will keep on going at the centerfield party deck. The littles are sure to flock toward the Great Clips Fun Zone around the batter's eye. Looking to head home with the ultimate souvenir? The Butler Heating and Air Lawn section D provides fans with the opportunity to haul in a homer that is sent beyond the reaches of the right-field fence.
