By the numbers:
7,230
Stadium seats at Fifth Third
844
Consecutive sellouts since the team’s debut in 2000
6,200
Season-ticket holders
Dayton Dragons President Bob Murphy says he hears the same refrain almost everywhere he goes: “We would buy Dragons tickets — if we could get them.”
It got a little easier Wednesday as the Dragons announced that for the first time since the club’s inaugural season in 2000, season-ticket packages will be available to the general public as opposed to merely those on the official waiting list.
“From an efficiency standpoint, this makes a lot of sense,” Murphy said. “If we put people into these miniplans, they’re going to renew at 90-plus percent. They do every year.”
The tickets, at least 300 and possibly up to 600 of them, are being harvested from a pool previously earmarked for group purchases, Murphy said.
Demand has never been a problem. The Cincinnati Reds’ low-Class A affiliate has sold out every game at Fifth Third Field since debuting, setting the all-time professional sports record for consecutive sellouts in July 2011 with its 815th. The streak stands at 844 heading into the season opener April 5 against West Michigan.
Murphy said the Dragons have 6,200 season-ticket holders and that the waiting list is up to 7,200. Fifth Third Field contains 7,230 seats, excluding lawn space.
Those on the waiting list should not feel slighted by the new policy, Murphy said.
“First of all, it’s not like they paid money to be on the list,” he said. “And they’ll have the same opportunity. It’ll be first-come, first-serve. My feeling is that those who want to buy will buy, and those who want to stay on the preferred list will do so.”
Also Wednesday, the Dragons said eight- and nine-game plans are available for the first time.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@ DaytonDailyNews.com,
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