SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

SportsBusiness Journal Picks Charleston as Top-10 Minor League Market

Published on August 16, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Fans of the Holy City have known forever that Charleston is one of America's great destination cities. Now, SportsBusiness Journal, one of the nation's premier authorities on the business side of sports, lists the Port City as a top-10 minor league markets.

Hershey-Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania, takes home the No. 1 spot, while Charleston, rated No. 7, is the lone representative in the South. It is Charleston's first appearance in the poll since it began in 2005.

In the August 15 issue of SportsBusiness Journal, research director David Broughton creates the biennial study's top-10 list. Included in the region for the study are the South Carolina Stingrays (hockey) and the Charleston Battery (soccer).

"We know we live in a great sports area, and this SportsBusiness Journalarticle confirms it," said RiverDogs General Manager Dave Echols. "While the City of Charleston and our facility (Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park) rank high in a multitude of polls, we, as the RiverDogs, take pride in that we listen intently to our fans and try to provide them with a wholesome, family atmosphere.

"Plus, the fact that we rank very high with our social media efforts probably aided in these ratings," he added.

The RiverDogs' records in attendance (more than 3.5 million since opening in 1997) remain impressive, but it is the fun in the stands that helps keep fans coming back to The Joe.

"We have a passionate fan base, one that appreciates the fun we present, but also good baseball," Echols added.

The RiverDogs are in their seventh year as the Class A affiliate of the 27-time World Series Champion New York Yankees.

According to the story, the River Dogs' "attendance makes up a little more than half of the half-million fans who annually attend Charleston's pro sports events. The New York Yankees affiliate, owned by the Goldklang Group, has long been admired throughout minor league sports for its creative marketing prowess. Club president and Goldklang Group executive adviser Mike Veeck has spent his career running professional baseball teams, so when the company purchased the team in the 1990s, Veeck was sent down to help with the transition."

"I moved here 15 years ago with the intention of working here for one year," Veeck said. "Now I'll never leave."

Beyond just baseball, though, it's the tenure of the all three local clubs that has helped lift Charleston into the top 10. Each club has been in the market for at least 16 seasons. San Bernardino (No. 2) is the only other market in the country that can boast hosting three or more clubs for at least that long.

This is the fourth time SportsBusiness Journal has ranked the nation's minor league markets.

SportsBusiness Journal's Top-10 Minor League Markets

1) Hershey-Harrisburg, Pa.

2) San Bernardino County, Calif.

3) Providence-Pawtucket, R.I.

4) Reading, Pa.

5) Portland, Maine

6) Syracuse, N.Y.

7) Charleston, S.C.

8) Modesto, Calif.

9) Idaho Falls, Idaho

10) Spokane, Wash.

Check out the Charleston RiverDogs Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 16, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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