PLAY BALL!⚾ The Cincinnati Reds just opened their season on March 27, and our own Dayton Dragons, a High-A affiliate of the Reds, are set to follow on Tuesday, April 8 with their 25th season of baseball in the Midwest League.
The Dragons continue to be a Dayton favorite, and Day Air Ballpark is hands-down one of the best places in the country to see a baseball game! To celebrate the return of baseball to downtown Dayton, we’ve put together a list of 25 Fun Facts about the Dragons commemorating the 25th season! We're tipping our caps to the incredible history and community impact this team has brought to the heart of our downtown area!
1. 2025 will be the 25th season of Dayton Dragons Professional Baseball
That’s a quarter-century of home runs, fireworks, walk-off wins, and unforgettable fan experiences!
2. The Dragons play at beautiful Day Air Ballpark in downtown Dayton, one of the finest Minor League Baseball facilities in the nation.
With a capacity of 6,831 stadium seats, 27 luxury suites and 7 permanent concession stands, Day Air Ballpark, in the heart of the Water Street District is sure to have the amenities you desire. After the conclusion of every day game, kids can even run the bases!
3. The Dragons have a 25-year partnership with the Cincinnati Reds, baseball’s first professional team.
On March 25, the Reds even played their final spring training game here! The Reds opponent in the game was a team of prospects from the Cincinnati farm system, some of whom will open the 2025 season with the Dragons. Reds prospects who played in Dayton include infielders Edwin Arroyo, Sal Stewart and Cam Collier; starting pitcher Chase Petty, and outfielders Hector Rodriguez, Ethan O’Donnell, Jay Allen II, and Carlos Jorge. The game also featured new Reds manager Terry Francona, a future hall of famer who has won two World Series championships and been victorious in nearly 2,000 career games over 23 seasons in the dugout.
4. The Dragons first game was played on April 27, 2000, a victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
That game set the tone for two and a half decades of thrilling baseball in front of 8,883 fans. With just a slight 4-3 win, the Dragons proved to leave fans awaiting more!
5. The Dragons have completed 1,573 consecutive sold out game dates, the longest streak in the history of sports in North America.
This is a great reason to become a season ticket holder so that you never have to miss out on a game! As a season ticket holder you receive the benefits of: Free Money on a Dragons Gift Card, VIP Parking Options, Ticket Exchange Program*, Payment Plan Options, Pre-sale for Special Events, 20% Team Store Coupon, Same Seat for Every Game, Specialty Gifts and more! For more information and pricing, visit their website.
6. The Dragons have finished in the top 10 in attendance over all levels of Minor League Baseball for each of their 24 seasons.
Minor League Baseball includes a Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Single-A and three Rookie leagues!
7. The Dragons have a KIDS program!
For $34.99 Kids Club members will receive a 25th season limited edition Dragons jersey, a 25th season limited edition crossbody bag, a Dragons hat, a Hot Head Burritos meal voucher, 2 lawn tickets, a Dragons fun zone pass and monthly prize drawings!
8. The Dragons have competed in the Midwest League since the team’s inception, a league that has produced almost half the current players in Major League Baseball.
The Midwest League includes The Fort Wayne TinCaps - an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, the Great Lake Loons - an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Lake County Captains - an affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, the Lansing Lugnuts - an affiliate of the Oakland A's, and the West Michigan Whitecaps - an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers within the East Division. Within the West Division the Midwest League includes The Beloit Sky Carp - an affiliate of the Miami Marlins, the Cedar Rapids Kernels - an affiliate Minnesota Twins, the Peoria Chiefs - an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Quad Cities River Bandits - an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, the South Bend Cubs - an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers - an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Dayton is within the East Division.
9. Entering the 2025 season, 149 Dragons players have gone on to eventually play Major League Baseball.
Player debuts have been with the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics over the years.
10. 15 Former Dragons have gone on to play in the Major League All-Star Game.
That All-Star shine starts right here in the Gem City 😉
11. The Dragons rank #1 in Dippin Dots sales in the Minor League Baseball network.
They're not just serving up baseball - they're serving up frozen fan-favorite treats like no one else! 🍨 You can find your very own Dippin' Dots in sections 106, 108, 111, 116 and lawn A.
12. The Dragons have a $27.5M annual economic impact on the Dayton region
(source: WSU Applied Sciences)
The economic impact generated by the Dayton Dragons and other local attractions plays a vital role in supporting jobs, boosting tourism, and fueling continued growth throughout Montgomery County. Quite honestly, we like to think that's a 'home run' for residents and visitors alike!
13. The arrival of the Dragons has triggered $3.5 billion in development in downtown Dayton since 2000.
Over the past 25 years, Dayton has seen new restaurants, hotels, apartment buildings and community events emerge. The Dragons have also done their fair share of 'developing', having put new grass, infield mix, warning tracks, drainage & irrigation and field/bullpen mounds in in 2023-24.
14. Four major concerts have taken place at Day Air Ballpark
Performances have included Def Leppard/Bryan Adams, Collective Soul/Counting Crows/Live, Willie Nelson/Bob Dylan/John Mellencamp, and the High School Musical cast featuring Corbin Blue and Vanessa Hudgens. The ballpark transforms into a world-class concert venue under the stars!
15. Two major comedians have appeared at Day Air Ballpark
Rob Schneider, an accomplished actor, comedian, screenwriter and director appeared in 2021 to take the stage and Bert Kreischer, a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and host who performs to sold-out crowds across the country appeared for his Fully Loaded Comedy Festival in 2022!
16. Over 300 high school baseball games and more than 20 college baseball games have been played over the history of Day Air Ballpark.
The Dragons High School Baseball Showcase, presented by Bob Ross Auto Group is back! 34 teams from the Miami Valley area will play in 17 games at Day Air Ballpark in 2025. This showcase provides a fundraising opportunity for high school programs, allowing them to sell Dragons tickets and raise money for their athletic departments. The showcase is open to the public and games are scheduled for various dates between April 15 and May 17.
Two of our local universities will also go up against each other this 2025 season. On April 29 at 7 p.m., you can catch the University of Dayton and Wright State University battle it out!
17. Over 50 walks to raise funds for official charities have taken place at Day Air Ballpark.
The Dragons 5K presented by Orthopedic Associates will take place again this year on July 12, 2025! Registration is open now!
18. The Dragons MVP school program has impacted more than 560,000 students over its 20-year history in the Miami Valley.
The Dragons MVP Program uses the excitement of Dayton Dragons Baseball to help 4th and 5th grade teachers in five local counties motivate students through classroom recognition. Teachers receive award kits to honor five standout students with Dragons game tickets, exclusive MVP swag, and the chance to be featured in game-day programs or even take part in on-field experiences—making learning fun and rewarding!
19. The Dragons have received numerous awards for their support of the military and the families of servicemen and women.
American Celebration Nights and Hometown Heroes Nights have become a tradition each season at Day Air Ballpark. The Hometown Heroes program hosts military families at every Dragons game, recognizes outstanding military organizations and individuals and welcomes the newest members of the armed forces during special ceremonies.
The Dragons Veteran Salute program, presented by CareSource Military & Veterans, will highlight five veterans' stories during the season. Veterans who are chosen are recognized at multiple Dragons games with an in-game video board moment and provided with VIP treatment when they attend the Dragons game. Submit your Veteran now!
20. The Dragons were the home for two years of Joey Votto
Joey Votto played for the Dayton Dragons in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, playing 171 games total. In 2024, he batted .302 with 14 home runs. He then made his debut with the Reds in 2007 and won the National League MVP in 2010! Votto has returned on occasions for rehab assignments and has since retired from baseball in 2024. Will he be a future inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame?
21. Special honorees at Dragons games have included Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Marty Brenaman, Archie Griffin, and Magic Johnson.
Talk about a fan experience!! The Dayton Dragons have played a great role in connecting the community with some of the greatest legends in sports history.
22. Dragons coaches have included Reds greats Ken Griffey Sr., Tom Browning, Chris Sabo, and Todd Benzinger.
This year, Vince Harrison Jr. will return to the Dragons for his second season and lead the coaching staff. In 2024, Harrison guided the Dragons to a record of 74-58 (.561) as the team won a Second Half division title for the first time since 2011 and qualified for the Midwest League playoffs for the first time since 2017.
23. Dragons player Billy Hamilton produced the first season in the history of the Reds organization with 100+ stolen bases in 2011
Billy then went on to his MLB debut with the Reds late in the 2013 season, appearing in 13 games, stealing 13 bases. He became the only player in modern MLB history to record a stolen base in each of his first four games.
24. Dragons player Jose Siri broke the 40-year-old Midwest League record for longest hitting streak
Siri went 39 consecutive games hitting safely! The previous record was 35 games, but Siri beat that with a single in his final at bat playing against Fort Wayne in 2017.
25. The Dragons have hosted many established Reds star players on Major League injury rehab assignments including Aroldis Chapman, Brandon Phillips, and Homer Bailey.
In total, the Dragons have hosted 41 MLB rehab assignments.
Check out video from the 2023 season:
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