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Fifth Third Field (Dayton)
Encyclopedia
Fifth Third Field is a minor league baseball
stadium in Dayton, Ohio
in the United States
. As in the case of another stadium
in Toledo
, the Ohio-based Fifth Third Bank
purchased the naming rights to the facility. Fifth Third Bank also owns the naming rights to another stadium
in Comstock Park
, Michigan
, near Grand Rapids, and a basketball arena
on the campus of the University of Cincinnati
.
The Dayton park, with a total capacity of 8,200, was built in 2000 for the Dayton Dragons
, a Midwest League
team and a Single-A affiliate of the nearby Cincinnati Reds
. With two-deck seating and large skybox
es, some compare the Single-A field to Triple-A fields.
Dragons games are broadcasted on 980 WONE (AM)
- Dayton, and on television at WHIO-TV
, Channel 7–CBS
.
played their first baseball game at Fifth Third Field on April 28, 2000. In attendance was Cincinnati Reds
Hall of Famer Johnny Bench
, who caught the ceremonial first pitch.
In their inaugural season, the Dragons managed to sell-out every home game of the 2000 season before the season even started.
In 2001, the Midwest League
All-Star Game was held at Fifth Third Field in Dayton.
to offer cheese coneys at Fifth Third Field. Apart from Skyline Chili, Fifth Third Field has contracted with Graeter's Ice Cream. Along with the contracted food, many nonprofit organizations including churches, fraternal organizations and schools operate the concessions stands.
In 2009, The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) rated Fifth Third Field one of the most vegetarian-friendly minor league ballparks in the United States.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
stadium in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As in the case of another stadium
Fifth Third Field (Toledo)
Fifth Third Field is the name of a minor league baseball stadium in Toledo, Ohio. The Ohio-based Fifth Third Bank purchased the naming rights to the stadium. It is not to be confused with another stadium in Ohio with the same name, Fifth Third Field in Dayton...
in Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, the Ohio-based Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank is a U.S. regional banking corporation, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the principal subsidiary of holding company Fifth Third Bancorp ....
purchased the naming rights to the facility. Fifth Third Bank also owns the naming rights to another stadium
Fifth Third Ballpark
Fifth Third Ballpark is a baseball stadium located in Comstock Park, Michigan, just north of Grand Rapids. Fifth Third Ballpark is home to the West Michigan Whitecaps, a professional minor league baseball team, and class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. Fifth Third Ballpark was originally built...
in Comstock Park
Comstock Park, Michigan
Comstock Park is a prosperous suburban community in the northern part of Metropolitan Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, that comprises parts of three neighboring townships:* Plainfield Township* Alpine Township* Algoma Township...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, near Grand Rapids, and a basketball arena
Fifth Third Arena
Fifth Third Arena is a 13,176-seat multi-purpose arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, named for Fifth Third Bank. The arena opened in 1989. It is home to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team. It is located in the Myrl H. Shoemaker Center, which was the name of the arena as...
on the campus of the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
.
The Dayton park, with a total capacity of 8,200, was built in 2000 for the Dayton Dragons
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
, a Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
team and a Single-A affiliate of the nearby Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. With two-deck seating and large skybox
Luxury box
A Luxury box is a special seating section located within stadiums, arenas and other sporting and entertainment venues. They are typically located in the midsection of a stadium grandstand, usually providing the best views of the event...
es, some compare the Single-A field to Triple-A fields.
Dragons games are broadcasted on 980 WONE (AM)
WONE (AM)
WONE is an AM radio station in Dayton, Ohio operating on 980 kHz with a Sports Talk format. It carries programming from Fox Sports Radio, as well as the Jim Rome Show and the Dan Patrick Show .-History:The station took the air in 1949, licensed to Skyland Broadcasting Corp...
- Dayton, and on television at WHIO-TV
WHIO-TV
WHIO-TV, virtual channel 7, is the CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Dayton, Ohio, serving that state's Miami Valley area. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 41 from its transmitter on Germantown Street in western Dayton....
, Channel 7–CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
History
The Dayton DragonsDayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
played their first baseball game at Fifth Third Field on April 28, 2000. In attendance was Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
Hall of Famer Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
, who caught the ceremonial first pitch.
In their inaugural season, the Dragons managed to sell-out every home game of the 2000 season before the season even started.
In 2001, the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All-Star Game was held at Fifth Third Field in Dayton.
Facts and figures
- Voted as one of the top ten hottest ticketsTicket (admission)A ticket is a voucher that indicates that one has paid for admission to an event or establishment such as a theatre, movie theater, amusement park, zoo, museum, concert, or other attraction, or permission to travel on a vehicle such as an airliner, train, bus, or boat, typically because one has...
to get in all of professional sports by Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. - The Dayton Dragons' series of 815 consecutive sellouts surpassed the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
for the longest sellout streak across all professional sports in the U.S. - Highest single-season attendance: 593,633 (2004, a Midwest LeagueMidwest LeagueThe Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
Record) - Fifth Third Field has 7,320 stadium-style seats.
Amenities
Fifth Third Field has recently contracted with Skyline ChiliSkyline Chili
Skyline Chili is a chain of chili restaurants based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1949 by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides, Skyline Chili is named for the view of Cincinnati's skyline that Lambrinides could see from his first restaurant , opened in the section of town now known as Price Hill...
to offer cheese coneys at Fifth Third Field. Apart from Skyline Chili, Fifth Third Field has contracted with Graeter's Ice Cream. Along with the contracted food, many nonprofit organizations including churches, fraternal organizations and schools operate the concessions stands.
In 2009, The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) rated Fifth Third Field one of the most vegetarian-friendly minor league ballparks in the United States.