If you grew up in Maine, you’ve probably been to Hadlock Field to see the Portland Sea Dogs play. If you’re not from the area, the Portland Sea Dogs are the AA Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Players like Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Christian Vasquez, Rafael Devers, and so many others are former Sea Dogs players. Benintendi actually got called up to the Red Sox the same summer I interned with the Portland Sea Dogs. How cool is that?!
One of the things I always loved about working for the Sea Dogs and attending games myself is how family-friendly the games are. A game at Hadlock Field is known as a “9-inning vacation” and that couldn’t be truer. An afternoon at a Sea Dogs game is the perfect outing for families with young children. So here are our best tips for a stress-free outing!
*Quick Note: Don’t mind the crying toddler in the photos below. She didn’t want to take pictures. I swear she had a great time! ha!
Skip general admission
I know general admission is a tad cheaper, especially for larger families, but when you have toddlers or very young children, it’s so much better to give them an actual seat. It’s not only more comfortable, but it gives them a designated space that’s theirs. No, they probably won’t stay in their seat for the entire duration of the game, but a lot of kids will love having the option to sit in their own seats.
Sit at the end of the row
I always suggest sitting at the end of the row so you have easy access to stairs and walkways. This makes it so much easier if someone needs to use the bathroom, your toddler needs a walk or your baby needs a new diaper. There’s nothing worse than having to step over others with children in tow so definitely sit at the end, if possible, and make it easier on yourself.
Related: How to Survive A Sporting Event With A Baby
Let your kiddos run around
I always let our oldest run around and get some energy out prior to sitting her in her seat for the game. This helps keep her still a bit longer so we’re not constantly up and down. I also plan for a few movement breaks during the game as well. It’s best to plan these breaks during the innings as opposed to in between. That way the concourse and surrounding areas are all generally pretty clear of people. Otherwise, there will be way too many people around to allow your little one the freedom to run which totally defeats the purpose of a movement break. I’d also use this time to grab any food your family needs as well!
Arrive early
There are a few important reasons to arrive early:
First off, parking can be kind of a pain. Especially with kids. There’s a parking lot across the street from the ballpark as well as behind the stadium by the school (King Middle School). Both of these parking lots fill up very quickly so if you want a closer spot then be sure to get there as early as you can. Otherwise, you’ll be parking on the street along Deering Ave (or down the side streets off Deering Ave which is an even longer walk!). So the moral of the story is to get there early!
The second reason to arrive early is to give yourself plenty of time to get food and get the kiddos situated in their seats. The concessions can have very long lines in between innings once the game starts so it’s usually best to get food early on in order to avoid those lines and get your food more quickly. This also gives you time to participate in any pre-game activities that may be going on at the ballpark that day.
Lastly, we have the on-field promos. If you have children who are old enough to participate in on-field promotions (aka fun games and activities) then you’ll want to arrive early in order to increase your chances of being picked by the promo team. The participants are picked as early as possible after the gates open up so the later you are, the less likely you are to be chosen for the games.
Take a picture with Slugger
This is a must. BUT it can sometimes be challenging to accomplish. Slugger typically has a couple of members of the promo team following him around to help with fan photos, but they can’t always get to everyone. Your best bet is to catch him out front before the game or in passing during an inning when everyone is busy watching the game and not wanting photos. But don’t feel discouraged if Slugger doesn’t get to you! He has a lot to do during the games so it’s normal for him to constantly be on the move.
Related: The Ultimate Maine Summer Bucket List
Keep an eye on the promo schedule
One of the best things about attending a Sea Dogs game are the themes. They have Star Wars Night, Harry Potter Night, 80’s Night, Pirate Night, Bark in the Park (you can bring your fury friends!), and so much more! The final game of the season is always their Field of Dreams night which is so fun yet sentimental at the same time because it’s one giant thank you to the fans and the community as a whole. So I always recommend attending the Field of Dreams game if you can get tickets. But if you find a great theme that your family loves, then I recommend attending it. Fans can dress up for the theme and participate in games and activities related to it as well. Sometimes there are even special treats and guest appearances!
Speaking of the promo schedule, also keep in mind that there’s always live music on Saturdays (played by the Kastaways) and fireworks are on Friday nights (be sure to check the schedule to determine which Fridays). On Sundays, kids under the age of 12 are allowed to run the bases after the game so that’s another fun day to be at the ballpark. All of these promotions can be found on their Facebook page or on the Portland Sea Dogs website so keep an eye on them!
Stop at the customer service desk
If it’s your kiddo’s first Sea Dogs game then be sure to stop at the customer service desk as you enter the park (it’s to the right-hand side after you walk through the main gate). Here, you can let them know it’s your child’s first time attending a game and they’ll give you a first game pin to wear! You can also get pins for any other celebration such as birthdays, anniversaries, a marriage, a family vacation and so much more! If you’re celebrating something, you can get a pin for it! This desk is also a great place to go for a game schedule, slugger baseball cards, and even information on the stadium or Portland in general. So if you’re from out of town, this is a great place to stop in if you have a few minutes.
Be mindful of the weather
Opening Day is in April each year and if you’re attending a game in April keep in mind that it will be cold. The sun goes down much earlier in April than it does in the middle of the summer and once you lose that sunshine, it goes from chilly to cold really fast. So bring lots of layers (some fans even bring blankets!).
If you’re attending a game during the summer months, then be sure to bring sunscreen. Hadlock Field has next to no shade (if any). Evening games aren’t as bad sun-wise, but if you’re attending a weekend game during the day, you’ll want to bring extra sunscreen, sunhats, battery-operated fans, etc. The concourse has fans running as well, but other than that, there really isn’t anywhere to go for air conditioning besides the front office. For this reason, I definitely recommend evening games for those of you with babies and toddlers so the temperature isn’t quite as bad. Either way, watch the weather and come prepared!
Join the Hood Kids Club
The Hood Kids Club is FREE to join and includes lots of fun benefits including one FREE general admission ticket to all 6 Hood Kids Club Games (a list of these games can be found on the Portland Sea Dogs website), an exclusive Hood Kids Club baseball clinic and ice cream social with Sea Dogs players, Hood Kids Club membership card, access to the Kids Club e-mail newsletter, attendance incentives, 1 FREE birthday ticket when you book a birthday party, a welcome letter from Slugger, 15% off discount to the souvenir store, entrance into Kids Club raffles, post-game Kids Run the Bases, and more! If you live locally, this is a super fun membership for kids!
Related: Allie’s First (and Second) Baseball Game
Buy a Sea Dogs Biscuit
Before leaving the ballpark, it’s important to pick up a few Sea Dog Biscuits! If you don’t know what these are, they consist of vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate cookies. Pretty simple, but so delicious! These are a staple here in Maine and no ballgame is complete without one (this also makes for a great end-of-the game treat for well-behaved kiddos!).
Relax and have a great time!
The best thing about a Sea Dogs game is that it’s a really affordable outing. This makes it a great way to get babies, toddlers, and young children accustomed to attending a sporting event without the fear of losing out on hundreds of dollars. So if your little one can’t make it past the 6th inning, it’s no biggie! Unlike a Red Sox game where you’re spending close to $100 a ticket in addition to food, alcohol, souvenirs, and possibly even transportation or hotels if you’re not from the area. It adds up quickly. But a Sea Dogs game is meant to be fun and family-friendly so don’t stress if the outing doesn’t go as planned.
