Photo / Jim Neuger
Slugger the Sea Dog, in his standard costume during a game against the Erie SeaWolves last July.
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With ticket promotion 5 months before Opening Day, spring comes early for Portland Sea Dogs
Photo / Jim Neuger
Portland Sea Dogs outfielder Phillip Sikes sprints toward jubilant teammates after he scored the final run in an extra-inning 6-5 victory over the Erie SeaWolves at Hadlock Field last July.
On Wednesday, a spring-like day in autumn, the Portland Sea Dogs were selling general admission tickets in the Minor League Baseball team's annual Dime-a-Degree promotion.
Tickets for the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox normally start at $12 for adults and $9 for kids and seniors, but were priced at $6.40 for the day. That's because the temperature at 9 a.m. inside Delta Dental Park at Hadlock Field was 64 degrees. In other words, a dime per degree.
The team started the annual promotion in 2013, and usually holds it in the spring.
Ticket agents were very busy all day, according to Chris Cameron, Sea Dogs vice president for communications and fan experience.
“The Dime-A-Degree promotion is typically our single busiest non-game day sales event of the season,” he told Mainebiz Wednesday afternoon. "This year’s ticket sales are right on track with previous seasons.”
The team does not typically disclose ticket numbers, however.
Opening Day at Portland's newly renamed ballpark is Tuesday, April 8, when the Dogs host the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
New game plan
The weather allowed Maine's only pro baseball team to change up its game plan.
“Some of the feedback we received was that fans wanted the opportunity to get Opening Day tickets through this promotion, so Mother Nature provided us with the opportunity to run the promo early this year allowing fans that opportunity,” Cameron said.
With an eye on forecasts, the Sea Dogs typically identify a potential date for the promotion two to four days in advance and then alert fans the day before.
“We’re always looking for funny and creative ways to sell tickets and entertain fans,” Cameron said. “This was a fun way to utilize Maine’s ever-changing weather in a fun way. It’s also allowed us to get local meteorologists involved in the fun, making their predictions on what the temperature might be at Delta Dental Park at 9 a.m.”
The temperature in Portland climbed as high as 78 degrees on Wednesday, a new record for the month of November. Other upcoming winter ticket sales promotions include Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
And what was the Sea Dogs’ beloved mascot up to during Wednesday's promotion?
“Slugger enjoyed a few Sea Dogs Biscuits today and took good care of our ticket staff,” Cameron said.
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