MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Dragons Are Finalist for Sportsbusiness Journal "Team of the Year" Award

Published on March 19, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


DAYTON, OHIO-The Dayton Dragons are among five finalists announced today for the prestigious SportsBusiness Journal Professional Sports Team of the Year Award. The Dragons are joined as finalists by the Texas Rangers (MLB), Boston Bruins (NHL), Stewart-Haas Racing (NASCAR), and Sporting Kansas City (MLS). The Dragons are the first minor league team from any sport to be selected as a finalist for the award, which is in its fifth year of existence.

The award honors one sports franchise based on an evaluation of "excellence, growth, creativity, innovation, sound planning, implementation and outcomes." Entries are judged by a panel of editors, writers and researchers from the SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily for the period from March 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony on May 23, 2012 at the New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square.

The award is open to all professional sports teams competing in the United States and U.S. national teams in leagues whose central offices are located in North America. Nominations were open to teams from Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), NASCAR, Minor League Baseball (MiLB), the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and numerous other major league and minor league circuits.

The award puts the Dragons in some impressive company. In 2011, baseball's defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants won the award, while the other nominees were the Orlando Magic (NBA), the New York Jets (NFL), the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), and Chip Ganassi Racing (NASCAR/IndyCar Racing). Typically, nominees have come from the top levels of major league professional sports.

Previous Winners of the Sports Business Journal Professional Sports Team of the Year

2011: San Francisco Giants (Major League Baseball)

2010: Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)

2009: Boston Celtics (Major League Baseball)

2008: Boston Red Sox (Major League Baseball)

SportsBusiness Journal is the industry's leading weekly trade publication. With bureaus in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte, and a network of more than 80 reporters, editors and guest writers, SportsBusiness Journal provides breaking news and comprehensive reporting and analysis on the world of sports business, from media and marketing to facilities and finance.

The Dragons broke the all-time North American record for consecutive sold-out game dates in 2011 when they completed their 815th straight sell-out at Fifth Third Field on July 9. The Dragons extended their streak through the end of the 2011 season and will enter the 2012 baseball season with the streak at 844. The previous record was held by the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. The record-breaking game in Dayton was covered by numerous national news media outlets including USA Today, ESPN, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, SportsBusiness Journal, and Association Press. The AP story appeared in hundreds of newspapers throughout the United States and Canada.

Every game in the Dragons 12-year history has been a sell-out. The Dragons have led Single-A baseball in attendance in each of their 12 years of existence and were the fastest Single-A team to reach six million in all-time attendance when they surpassed the mark in 2011.

The Dragons are owned and operated by Mandalay Baseball Properties, LLC. Mandalay also owns and/or operates four other Minor League Baseball clubs nationally including the Oklahoma City RedHawks, the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the Frisco Rough Riders, and the Erie SeaWolves.

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