SBJ/SBD survey: MiLB tops in family-friendly experience
Minor League Baseball was recently named "league with the most family-friendly game/event experience" in the 12th annual SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily (SBJ/SBD) Reader Survey. The online surveys were conducted from Oct. 17 to Nov. 4, 2016, with more than 1,000 SBJ/SBD subscribers participating. This is the second consecutive year in which Minor League Baseball was voted first in this category. Additionally, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball combined accounted for more than 50 percent of the vote.
"The outcome of this survey is a real point of pride for all of minor league baseball," said Lexington Legends' President/CEO Andy Shea. "The 'family-friendly' concept has been the foundation of Legends' baseball since day one, and that will continue into 2017 and beyond."
"We recognize that families have many entertainment options from which to choose, and they continue to come to Minor League Baseball ballparks to make memories," said Minor League Baseball's Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer David Wright. "Their tremendous support has helped us remain a leader in sport and entertainment."
The survey consisted of four main sections: State of the Industry, Teams and Leagues, Media, Marketing and Sponsorship and the Best of the Rest, with each section containing questions pertaining to the topic with varying levels of participation.
In the Teams and Leagues section, nearly one third of participants voted Minor League Baseball as the "league with the most family-friendly game/event experience." Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Soccer (MLS) rounded out the list of prominent properties highlighted in the survey.
"Minor League Baseball teams work tirelessly year-round to provide unique memorable experiences for fans across the country," added Wright.
"The Legends staff spends the off-season months researching and developing a cohesive entertainment and promotions schedule for our fans to ensure that a positive and family-friendly experience is had by everyone in attendance at each game," said Legends Vice President of Business Development Sarah Bosso. "Family fun has been the name of our game since the Legends' inception in 2001."
In July 2016, Minor League Baseball announced that it remained the industry leader in entertainment value, with the average cost for a family of four to attend a game being only $64.97. The price included parking, two adult tickets, two child tickets, four hot dogs, two sodas and two beers. Over the past five seasons, this average price has only increased by $3.74.
The Legends will open their 2017 home season on April 13. More information, including a complete schedule of promotions and discounts, is available at www.lexingtonlegends.com.