Washington D.C. may not be ranked among the top sports towns, but two of its franchises can boast great minor league affiliates, located eight miles apart in central Pennsylvania. According to the Sports Business Journal, Hershey-Harrisburg, Pa. is the best minor league area in the nation, beating out No. 2 San Bernardino (Calif.), No. 3 Providence-Pawtucket (R.I.) and No. 4 Reading (Pa.).
The Hershey Bears, affiliate of the Capitals, have long been the jewel of the American Hockey League. The Harrisburg Senators, the Nationals’ Double-A team, have had an injection of buzz thanks to two of baseball’s most talked about young stars, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.
“It never hurts that the town of Hershey smells like chocolate. It’s one of the most family friendly destinations in the country regardless of the sports teams,” said Todd Sadowski, sports director at Fox 43 in Harrisburg. “When it’s warm, attending a Senators game on City Island, with walking access to the state capitol, sets it apart.”
The SBJ noted the Bears’ loyal following and the team’s close ties with the Caps.
New Caps radio announcer John Walton has spent the last nine years in Hershey and was surprised by the passion, especially given Hershey’s proximity to NHL cities Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
“Keep in mind that Hershey was affiliated with the Flyers in the ’80s and into the ’90s,” Walton said. “We are in Pennsylvania. But there are a lot of times you don’t realize that, especially at a Bears game. If a Flyers score goes up on the board, people will boo. Sidney Crosby had his Reebok commercial that ran in our building last year. Nothing was booed more.”
Walton said the Bears’ appeal can be attributed in part to the non-transient demographics of the region. Some Hershey fans have had season tickets for 50 years.
“It’s an amazing place,” Walton said. “And it’s hockey-driven — 10,000 people a night, the recent string of championships (three Calder Cups since 2006), and a fan base I’d put up against some NHL fan bases in terms of how crazy they are about the sport and how knowledgeable.”
– Kevin Dunleavy and Jim Williams
