A Dayton Dragons game day is one of the easiest ways to spend a summer night in the Miami Valley: a packed house, a seven-story video board and a downtown ballpark. Thrush & Son® had its own moment on that stage back when it was Fifth Third Field. Here’s that story, updated, plus a plan for the house you leave behind.
The 30-second version: the Dragons play at Day Air Ballpark, the renamed Fifth Third Field, and own a record sellout streak. Before a Dayton Dragons game day, lock up and set the thermostat back. If a storm passes over during the game, walk the yard next morning and look for hail and wind clues.
A Family Company on the Big Stage
An earlier post on this site celebrated what makes minor league baseball special: seats close to the action and a crowd full of neighbors. The centerpiece was a photo of Thrush & Son® featured at Fifth Third Field during a Dayton Dragons game day.
That fits who we are. Thrush & Son® has been a Brookville family business since 1960, and the Dragons draw families from every corner of the Miami Valley.
The ballpark has a new name and the record books have grown, so every fact below comes from the league’s own pages.
Fifth Third Field Is Now Day Air Ballpark
The gates opened April 27, 2000, and the park kept the Fifth Third Field name until the canceled 2020 season, according to MLB’s guide to Day Air Ballpark.
In January 2020, the Dragons announced a 10-year naming rights partnership with Day Air Credit Union, and the stadium became Day Air Ballpark. The address stayed 220 North Patterson Blvd.
If your memories of a Dayton Dragons game day still say “Fifth Third,” you’re in the right place. Same seats, new sign out front.
The Sellout Streak Nobody Else Has
- April 27, 2000The ballpark opens downtown as Fifth Third Field.
- July 9, 2011Sellout No. 815 passes the Portland Trail Blazers’ mark of 814, set from 1977 to 1995.
- 2020The park becomes Day Air Ballpark.
- 2021Attendance limits keep this season out of the count.
- Heading into 20261,639 consecutive sellouts, the record among U.S. pro sports clubs, per MLB.
That streak is why you plan ahead: a Dayton Dragons game day sells out, so buy tickets early and allow extra time to park downtown.
Who Takes the Field in Dayton
The Dragons are the High-A affiliate of the Reds and play in the Midwest League. Here’s the lineup card for your next Dayton Dragons game day.
| # | Position | The facts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parent club | The Reds, every season since the ballpark opened in 2000 |
| 2 | League | Midwest League, with division titles in 2004, 2011 and 2021 |
| 3 | Mascots | Heater and Gem, joined by Blaze for the 25th season in 2025 |
| 4 | Alumni | Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Jay Bruce and Elly De La Cruz |
Fun local history: MLB’s ballpark guide notes that Dayton’s first pro team, the Gem Citys, played in 1884, and that pro ball was gone for 49 years before the Dragons arrived. Every Dayton Dragons game day continues that story.
The Dayton Dragons Game Day Menu for Your House
Four items: two before first pitch, one during the game, one for the drive home.
Stand Up, Stretch, Then Look Up
Baseball season and severe storm season share the same calendar in Ohio. The National Weather Service calls a thunderstorm severe when it produces hail one inch across or larger, or winds of 58 mph or more.
Storms like that can mark a roof in minutes and leave nothing you can see from the living room. So when a big cell crosses the Miami Valley on a Dayton Dragons game day, the house deserves a look the next morning.
The Morning-After Ground Check
The morning after a stormy Dayton Dragons game day, stay on the ground, walk the house once and photograph anything new.
- Shingle pieces in the yard. Pieces on the lawn mean wind lifted something.
- Granules at the downspouts. A fresh pile of sand-like grit can mean hail knocked granules loose.
- Dents on soft metal. Check gutters, downspouts, roof vents and the fins on your AC unit. Our guide to signs of hail damage shows what each one looks like.
- Lifted, creased or missing shingles. Use your phone’s zoom from the curb.
- Gutters and flashing pulled loose. Gaps at the fascia or bent metal are classic wind clues; see our Dayton wind damage guide.
- Siding and screens. Cracks, chips or torn screens show which way the storm hit.
- Don’t climb onto a wet or damaged roof. The ground check is enough to decide whether to call a roofer.
- Don’t sign with the first knock on the door. Have a local company you can look up inspect it in writing.
Jumbotron Trivia
Four Dayton Dragons game day questions from the facts above. Pick an answer and the board reveals the right one.
The Takeaway Worth Sharing
Enjoy every inning of your Dayton Dragons game day. When a summer storm crosses town, give the house a ten-minute ground check the next morning.
Know a Dragons family? Send them this page before their next Dayton Dragons game day.
Storm Came Through During the Game? We’ll Take a Look
Thrush & Son®: family-owned exterior pros since 1960.
If your post–Dayton Dragons game day ground check turned up dents, granules or missing shingles, read the Thrush & Son® guide to storm damage, then book an inspection.
➡️ Schedule in Dayton➡️ View All ServicesCall (937) 833-5136 · 115 Jefferson St, Brookville, OH 45309
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- Since 1960
Further Reading
Official sources: MLB, MiLB.com and the Dayton Dragons and the National Weather Service.
Dayton Dragons Game Day FAQ
What is the Dayton Dragons’ ballpark called now?
The Dragons play at Day Air Ballpark in downtown Dayton. It opened in 2000 as Fifth Third Field and took the Day Air name in 2020.
How long is the Dragons’ sellout streak?
The Dragons entered the 2026 season with 1,639 consecutive sellouts, not counting the limited 2021 season. Sellout No. 815 in 2011 passed the Portland Trail Blazers’ 814.
Who are the Dayton Dragons affiliated with?
The Dragons are the High-A affiliate of the Reds in the Midwest League, part of the Reds system since 2000.
What should I do at home before a Dayton Dragons game day?
Lock doors and windows, set the thermostat back and check the forecast. Our state park day-trip guide has the full lock-up list.
What should I check after a summer storm?
From the ground, look for shingle pieces in the yard, granules at the downspouts, dents on gutters and vents, and lifted or missing shingles. Stay off the roof and have a roofer inspect anything you spot.
Is a dugout safe during lightning?
No. The National Weather Service says dugouts and other small outdoor shelters are not safe. Go to a substantial building or a hard-topped car and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Written by Corey Thrush, Vice President and third generation of Thrush & Son®.
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