Fort Wayne still a top sports town

Hershey, Pennsylvania may be the Chocolate Capital, but #2 is still a sweet number to be. Street & Smiths Sports Business Journal just released their list of top Minor League sports markets, placing Fort Wayne at #2. The city held the #1 spot last year, but this year fell behind the Hershey-Harrisburg, P.A. market. “Anytime youre number one when a list comes out if you were always number one I think people would question the validity of the list” says Michael Limmer of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Limmer adds that “out of 239 markets, to take number two thats still pretty good." Michael Franke, President of the Fort Wayne Komets also adds that be it “1, 2 its still a great sports town.” According to the sports journal, the reason for the slip to second this year: “Attendance at indoor football games or lack thereof is the major reason why the market fell to the number two spot.” Franke says that “unfortunately the indoor football team had a very tough season, their attendance was tough.” Dan O’Connell of the Fort Wayne/Allen County Visitors Bureau also says that the sports journal “almost apologized for having to knock us down because the Freedom Football team, the league had folded.” Taking a look back this year: The TinCaps have been bringing in around 5400 people per game. Mad Ants saw a 44-percent increase in attendance. And the Komets took home another Turner Cup win. O’Connell also adds that “this ranking proves that theres a pretty great product on the court or on the field and the fans like the way theyre being treated.” Be it new facilities or winning teams all seem to agree that Fort Wayne wouldnt be #2 without the fans.