Richmond was ranked the 18th best minor league sports market in America, according to a report this week from the SportsBusiness Journal.
The rankings are based on a score made up of a market’s tenure rank, attendance rank and economic rank.
With Flying Squirrels baseball and Richmond Revolution and Richmond Raiders indoor football, Richmond was the second highest ranked market in Virginia, one notch below Norfolk.
Hershey-Harrisburg, Pa., was the top minor league sports market for the second year in a row, according to the list, thanks to a passionate fan base, tenured clubs and a stable economy.
San Bernardino, Calif., Providence-Pawtucket, R.I., Reading, Pa., and Portland, Maine, rounded out the Top 5.
The bottom of the list was made up of towns in Michigan where most of the minor league teams have folded because of the poor economy.
Other markets in Virginia ranked as follows:
Roanoke-Salem: 43
Woodbridge: 51
Lynchburg: 53
Bristol: 59
Danville: 142
Pulaski: 153
The rankings looked at a total of 248 minor league markets, including 419 minor league teams from 47 leagues. The attendance figure was included for the five most recently completed seasons for each league.
SBJ does not take into account racetracks, high-profile college programs or major junior hockey leagues. It also does not include markets that are home to both a major league sports franchise and a minor league team.
Richmond was ranked the 18th best minor league sports market in America, according to a report this week from the SportsBusiness Journal.
The rankings are based on a score made up of a market’s tenure rank, attendance rank and economic rank.
With Flying Squirrels baseball and Richmond Revolution and Richmond Raiders indoor football, Richmond was the second highest ranked market in Virginia, one notch below Norfolk.
Hershey-Harrisburg, Pa., was the top minor league sports market for the second year in a row, according to the list, thanks to a passionate fan base, tenured clubs and a stable economy.
San Bernardino, Calif., Providence-Pawtucket, R.I., Reading, Pa., and Portland, Maine, rounded out the Top 5.
The bottom of the list was made up of towns in Michigan where most of the minor league teams have folded because of the poor economy.
Other markets in Virginia ranked as follows:
Roanoke-Salem: 43
Woodbridge: 51
Lynchburg: 53
Bristol: 59
Danville: 142
Pulaski: 153
The rankings looked at a total of 248 minor league markets, including 419 minor league teams from 47 leagues. The attendance figure was included for the five most recently completed seasons for each league.
SBJ does not take into account racetracks, high-profile college programs or major junior hockey leagues. It also does not include markets that are home to both a major league sports franchise and a minor league team.
Squirrels? Check.
Richmond Revolution? Who?
Richmond Raiders? Huh?
The only reason I have never been to a local semi-pro football game is because I have no idea where either team plays.
Maybe it’s a marketing problem? No. It’s a definite marketing problem.