Dayton Dragons Organizational 2026 Season Review (Community, Promotions, Entertainment, On-Field)

Dayton, Ohio—The 2026 season was an incredible year for the Dayton Dragons, both on and off the field.

Go to this link for the complete season review with photos

The season included the Dragons first-ever run to the Midwest League Championship Series, featuring the most exciting and dramatic playoff wins in franchise history. The Dragons also led all Minor League Baseball in average attendance per game.

Additionally, the Dragons and Day Air Credit Union announced a 10-year extension of their ballpark naming rights partnership through the 2040 season. The Dragons also welcomed the addition of the South Dayton Toyota Diamond Club to Day Air Ballpark and introduced Deck the Diamond as a hugely popular holiday attraction.

• When the final numbers were in, the Dragons ranked number one in the nation in attendance. The attendance per game average of 7,863 led all levels of Minor League Baseball (120 teams). (See more on this topic in the second section).
• The Dragons earned a First Half division title for the first time since 2007, locking them into the playoffs in September. Once the playoffs began, the Dragons advanced to the Midwest League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history by winning the semi-final round set over the Great Lakes Loons, two-games-to-one. The series with the Loons included two Dragons home wins, both played in front of a full house at Day Air Ballpark, games that featured highly-energized crowds that roared with every Dragons hit or key defensive play, creating a thrilling ballpark atmosphere that rivaled anything ever experienced in Minor League Baseball. (See more on this topic in the “On the Field” section of this Season Review)
• On June 9, the Dragons and Day Air Credit Union announced an extension of an additional 10 years to their original partnership extending stadium naming rights through 2040. The facility will continue to be named Day Air Ballpark. “Having the continuity of a naming rights partner for the team helps secure the future of our team,” said Robert Murphy, Dragons President. “This means that everything the Dragons organization does to contribute to our community will continue. This includes our annual economic impact, our being a driver for economic development, our Dragons MVP school program, our support of nonprofit organizations, and our ability to drive people downtown to Dragons games and other events at Day Air Ballpark, all year long.”
• The Dragons officially opened the South Dayton Toyota Diamond Club, the largest renovation project at the ballpark since the original opening in 2000. (See more below).
• The Dragons completed the inaugural year of Deck the Diamond, a new holiday event at Day Air Ballpark (see more below).
• The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles introduced a new Dragons specialty license plate featuring the Dragons logo. For every license plate sold, $25 will go towards the Dragons Foundation.
• The Dragons were selected as the First-Place winner in the Dayton Daily News “Best of Dayton” contest in two categories: “Best Attraction” and “Best Family Fun Destination.” The Dragons were also selected by Dayton Magazine in their annual survey as the “Best Family Fun Entertainment.”
• Robert Murphy, President of the Dragons, was recognized by the Dayton Business Journal’s Power 100, identifying the 100 people who helped create a new direction for the Dayton region and helped propel it into the burgeoning powerhouse of today.
• Dragons executives Eric Deutsch (Executive Vice President) and Brandy Guinaugh (Executive Vice President & Assistant General Manager) were recognized in the Ohio 500, a research initiative by the editors of Ohio Business Journal identifying the top 500 executives in Ohio.
• Dragons broadcaster Tom Nichols was inducted into the Ohio Sports Hall-of-Fame as a media contributor.