Why do the dayton dragons sellout

The Boston Red Sox have sold out every home game since May 15, Don't laugh. The Dragons enjoyed consecutive sellout No. That eclipsed the previous professional sports record, set by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, who recorded sellouts in a row from April 9, , to Nov.

In fact, the Dragons have sold out every single home game since the team relocated to Ohio from Rockford, Ill. How did they do it? With a sophisticated, efficient approach to ticket sales, a keen awareness of entertainment value and an unwavering emphasis on customer service. It also doesn't hurt that the Dragons are affiliated with the nearby Cincinnati Reds, who have long boasted a loyal fan base in Dayton.

Current and former Reds such as Joey Votto, Adam Dunn, Johnny Cueto, Austin Kearns and Jay Bruce all honed their skills as members of the Dragons early in their careers, even if youngsters might be more likely to remember the Dragons' four mascots and characters.

It all adds up to an atmosphere that inspires fans to come back through the turnstiles over and over again. I think being in the Reds' backyard and the great tradition of that franchise has created true baseball fans here.

The players love the support. The fans love how accessible the players are. Everyone knows they're part of something special, something that just doesn't happen in every city with every team.

The Dragons are special, proof that baseball can work when it's done right and in the right place, that it can still attract fans young and old. The Dragons also are proof that in not chasing every last dollar and instant gratification, a professional team can build a loyal following that will last. They came to Dayton nearly two decades ago promising to break the mold on how teams are run. They were stunned to sell out the entire first season by Opening Day but quickly set a goal of making it last.

We were just setting ourselves up for failure. We had a waiting list, and we knew the waiting list was real because we kept in touch with them. But I thought was a crazy number. The Dragons aren't selling championship baseball. They've never won a Midwest League title in their year history. They've had some good players Joey Votto, Didi Gregorius and Justin Turner are among those who have passed through and exciting players Billy Hamilton stole bases in games in Dayton in Just this season, Jose Siri had a game hitting streak, breaking a league record that had stood for 40 years.

But the Dragons also had two years where they lost more than 90 games, tough to do in a game minor league season. Like all affiliated teams in the minors, the Dragons don't set their roster and have no control over player moves. The parent Reds assign players to the Dragons each March, and while they wouldn't mind seeing them win, the more important goal is to develop the prospects to eventually get to Cincinnati.

But there's also one of Roofman. The kid-friendly area featured face painting, activities and carnival games including Skee Roll, Bull Ringer, Lily Pad Launcher and more. Its concession options received an upgrade through its "Dog House" concession stand and the Samuel Adams Pub. The AZEK pavers are made up of 95 percent post-consumer recycled materials, among other standout features.

A new display courtesy of the Cincinnati Reds Hall-of-Fame was added to the suite level at the ballpark, featuring memorabilia from former Dragons who have played for the Reds. Autographed jerseys, caps from key games and more memorabilia are featured. Along with these updates, additional new concourse banners; a new double-sized luxury suite; upgrades to the training room; and a renovated customer service booth all made their debuts this season. Other initiatives led this year included the hosting of a naturalization ceremony for 20 new citizens who took their oath of allegiance on the field during a Dragons game; new family entertainment programming; and a number of community-focused events.

We could have a sellout and the place would be totally empty if every seat was sold and no one showed up. So people sometimes will ask about that. Nichols then laid out four important philosophies to which the Dragons adhere, aiming to attract and retain patrons. It became harder and harder for her to park her car and then walk to wherever she parked her car to the game. And she told her rep, each season ticket holder has a team representative here, she told her rep about that problem.

And without telling anyone, he made a deal with her that he would let her call him on his cell phone when she pulled up, and he would come out and actually get her car, park her car, and walk back.

Each night they get on the field for an hour or so and run through all that. Following right along with that is affordability. Like many teams across the minor leagues, the Dragons stress affordability. And finally, the marketing strategy that likely benefits ticket sales the most for Dayton is community involvement.