Reading Express: 2009 AIFA National Champions

Reading ranks fourth in the latest minor league markets ranking from Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal. The biennial ranking  recognizes fan support.

Reading’s top-five showing is a testament to the Reading Express,  Reading Phillies and Reading Royals.

Reading Express fans played a major role in 2011 in helping the market achieve fourth place, as the SportsBusiness Journal report cited the Express’ 20% increase in attendance over 2010. Meanwhile, the report indicated that the Reading Phillies “have filled 75 percent of their seats over the past five seasons and were the Eastern League’s attendance leader heading into the final month of the 2011 season.”

Reading’s top-five showing is a significant upgrade from the market’s 22nd-place showing in 2009, and surpasses the seventh-place ranking from 2007.

The nearby Hershey-Harrisburg market ranked number one this year, followed by San Bernardino, Calif., and Providence-Pawtucket, R.I. Portland, Maine, rounded out the top five.