With only three home games rained out this year and a full slate of promotions, the Portland Sea Dogs had a strong summer in attendance and in overall revenue.
“We kind of hit a home run — no pun intended,” Jesse Scaglion, the team’s general manager, told Mainebiz in a phone interview on Friday, some 195 days before the 2027 home opener.
With a 71-65 record in 2026, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox finished in second place in the Eastern League Northeast Division but, alas, did not make the playoffs.
Earlier this month, the Sea Dogs ended their season a day early, since the Sept. 13 scheduled game against the Binghamton (N.Y.) Rumble Ponies was rained out. The day before, the team went out on a high note, shutting out the Rumble Ponies 1-0.
‘Crazy giveaways’
Thanks in part to dry weather this season, revenue was 10% higher than last year, while attendance was up around 4.5%, according to Scaglion. Total attendance rose 3.4% to 379,046. Every year, the team has only 69 scheduled home games to play with.
“Weather can make or break our season,” he said. “It was a bummer to end the year on a rainout, but looking at it year over year, we had a much better season than we did last year.”
Aside from that, he attributed the season’s success to the team’s “monster promotion schedule” of theme nights (from Harry Potter Night to Popstar Night: Sluggers Version) and “crazy giveaways.”
The latter included NBA star Cooper Flagg, Boston Red Sox pitcher Peyton Tolle and Emma Tiedemann, the Sea Dogs broadcasting director and a Mainebiz 40 Under 40 honoree in 2023.
In Tiedemann’s case, the bobblehead was a talking, battery-operated version of the broadcaster seated in her booth with pen and paper. Pressing the button plays Tiedemann’s call of a Sea Dogs combined no-hitter on July 23, 2023, with crowd noises in the background.
Before the game on the night of the bobblehead giveaway, Tiedemann participated in a panel for Women in Sports Night and threw out a ceremonial first pitch to her mom.
While the giveaway was limited to the first 1,000 fans to enter the ballpark, Scaglion (Tiedemann’s husband) said the couple ordered three extra cases to share with family and friends around the country, all with signed personal notes.
“We’re down to a case,” Scaglion said last week.
He also still finds it surprising that some people choose to sell their bobbleheads on eBay, including one Cooper Flagg version listed for $30,000 that he doesn’t think anyone will ever buy.
“We’re always fighting the battle with people who come to these games with bad intentions,” he says, “but it’s tough.”
Staffing and economic impact
The team is staffed by more than 20 year-round employees and around 500 people during baseball season, from ushers to cleaning crew members.
“It’s a 24/7 operation here,” Scaglion noted.
Researchers at the University of Southern Maine estimate the Sea Dogs’ annual impact at $65.3 million, including a one-time $39.5 million construction impact, with the team supporting 520 jobs. All four of the city’s pro sports teams have a combined impact of more than $110 million, researchers found.
Eye on 2027
While the off-season is all about planning for next year, Scaglion said the team is still in the early days of looking at what upgrades and improvements are needed at the ballpark.
“There are a lot of things I would love to do if I had a blank check,” he said.
He said the team also hopes to continue its winning streak with new promotions and merchandise in 2027. The team has already announced its schedule of 69 home games in Portland, with single-game tickets set to go on sale on Nov. 7.
And what about Slugger the Sea Dog, the team’s beloved mascot?
“Slugger does a ton of appearances, whether it’s at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, whether it’s at parades and events or for nonprofits, Slugger stays busy year-round,” Scaglion said.
And what does Slugger do to unwind?
“I don’t think Slugger does relax. He just goes, goes, goes,” Scaglion said. “Slugger is a machine.” Well, maybe the occasional dip in Casco Bay, he said.
The Sea Dogs are set to open their 2027 season at home against the Rumble Ponies on Friday, April 2.
