Hometown Heroes

The Dayton Development Coalition’s Hometown Heroes™ represents the Dayton Region’s desire to thank those who serve our country, recognize the sacrifices they make to keep our country safe, and let them know regardless of where in the world they are stationed, Dayton will always welcome them home.

Hometown Heroes™ program honors our community’s servicemen and women affiliated with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Air National Guard base in Springfield. The program began in 2003 and has grown with the generosity of local businesses to support thousands of military families in the region. Servicemen and women and their families receive complimentary tickets to the Dayton Dragons, and performances through Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. They join community leaders for Celebration Nights where they can enjoy a VIP experience at a game or show.

Each spring, Hometown Heroes works in partnership with The Big Hoopla to bring the excitement of March Madness to our region’s military. Founded in 2012, The Big Hoopla has supported the Dayton Region’s military community by donating over 100,000 tickets to Airmen at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, veterans and local students. Thousands of tickets are distributed to servicemen and women for college basketball games during the regular season and the first four games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena.

Hometown Heroes and The Big Hoopla also host Military Appreciation Night, a summer concert at an outdoor venue for our servicemen and women in the region.