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Dayton Dragons: Fifth Third Field
Overview
Fifth Third Field opened in 2000 in Dayton, Ohio as home to a new baseball
franchise, the single-A Dayton Dragons. The Dragons play in the Midwest League, a league whose teams reside in cities like
Beloit, Wisconsin and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dayton, a city whose metropolitan population is nearly one million, could probably
have supported a AA or even AAA franchise, but due to the close proximity of the Cincinnati Reds, about 45 mintues to an hour
away, the Dragons were only allowed to exist at all on the condition that they would always be a Reds affiliate and would
be single-A so not to compete for fans with the major league club.
Since then, the Dragons have consistently sold out their new home, which
seats nearly 8,000. Regardless of the team's success, the ballpark draws fans back to downtown Dayton. It is one of the only
single-A or AA parks to have an upper deck and also sports 30 luxury suites. It features a full video board and great Dragon
designs all over the park. Definitely worth a trip to this small city to watch the Dragons.
Photos
Dragon tale
In 2005, Dragons' star player Domonique Lewis had a five-for-five game
and to celebrate took advantage of the Arby's five roast beef sandwiches for $5.95 deal. Unfortunately for Lewis, that much
roast beef did not sit well with his system, and he became so sick from the feast that he could not play in the next
day's game. The Dayton manager, angry at Lewis' antics and in a rage to prove to his leadoff hitter that his doing
was not just an innocent mistake himself traveled to Arby's and bought the five sandwiches. The result: no illness.
Point proven.
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