A summer in Southwest Ohio is not complete without attending some of the diverse, plentiful sporting events in the region. Most know about the Cincinnati Reds, but some less popular teams and sports could entertain this summer.
The Cincinnati Swarm, the area's newest professional sports team, is a first-year member of the young Arena Football 2 League. To survive in the Southwest Ohio sports environment, the Swarm had to distinguish itself from the competition.
"We are finding our niche is for people who don't want to spend an arm and a leg to have a good time," said the Swarm's Director of Public Relations Aaron Roos.
The Swarm (3-7) plays every other Saturday until August, drawing fans from many demographics, Roos said.
"We are a good form of family entertainment," Roos said. "It's cheaper for a family to come here than go out to the movies. But at the same time people are having their bachelor parties at the games. It's a little bit of everything."
Beside the main draw of fast, energized football, the Swarm also provides pre-game entertainment and fan giveaways. The Swarm-Up Plaza Party starts three hours before kickoff and features bands, fire-eaters and stilt-walkers on the plaza between US Bank Arena and Great American Ballpark along the Ohio River.
Opening night, the Swarm attracted 7,000 fans and continue to average nearly 4,000 per game, with ticket prices ranging from $9-$29 a seat.
If the Swarm stays as a fixture in the Cincinnati area for 100 more years, it still will be younger than this year's ATP Western & Southern Financial Group Tennis Master's Series, held Aug. 7-17 in Mason.
The tournament began in 1899 as a stop on the U.S. Summer Circuit when American tennis was in its infancy. It was moved from downtown Cincinnati to Mason in 1979 and consolidated to a male-only draw more than 75 years ago.
The tournament is one of only 13 mandatory tournaments in the ATP Master's Series, and the top-52 ranked male players in the world are entered automatically.
Public Relations Director Phil Smith said this tournament is the best chance many Ohioans have to see top-flight tennis close to home.
"We attract fans from all over the world, Smith said. "Everyone loves to come to this tournament, including the players, because of the great location, surface and facilities."
The tennis center in Mason is one of five permanent concrete tennis facilities in the world with more than 10,000-seat capacity, and has gone through constant renovations in its 21-year history.
In the qualifying rounds, tickets cost $10 for an all-day pass, and prices rise throughout the week. All of the proceeds from the tournament go to local charities and facility maintenance.
Keep heading north from Mason on Interstate-75, and Fifth Third Field comes into view. The park is home of the Dayton Dragons, a Class-A minor league baseball team.
Mike Vanderwood, director of media relations for the Dragons, enjoys the relationship his team has with its big-league brother, the Cincinnati Reds.
"We have a very good relationship with the Reds. In 2001, we had (Austin) Kearns and (Adam) Dunn here. Being affiliated with those types of guys brings instant credibility to our organization," Vanderwood said.
However, Vanderwood said people do not have to be a baseball fan to enjoy the games.
"In major league baseball, the baseball is the draw, which it ought to be. In the minors, we do not have the best players around so we have to cater to the fans even more," Vanderwood said
Fifth Third Field is in downtown Dayton and opened in 2001.
"We think our field is outstanding. It's one of the best in all of minor league baseball," Vanderwood said.
The Dragons play throughout the summer, with tickets starting at $5.
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Tim Trainor
