SEA DOGS TO HOST 2015 EASTERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME

Mid-Summer Classic, Presented by Sullivan Tire,

 Set for July 15th at Hadlock Field

Portland, Maine - The Portland Sea Dogs have been selected by the Eastern League to host the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game.  Sea Dogs General Manager Geoff Iacuessa made the announcement Tuesday afternoon at Hadlock Field.  The 2015 All-Star Classic, presented by Sullivan Tire, will be played on Wednesday, July 15th, 2015.

"The Eastern League couldn't be happier about awarding the 2015 All-Star Game to the Sea Dogs and the greater Portland area," stated Eastern League President Joe McEacharn. "This community event will showcase the very special bond between the team and community while highlighting the entire southern Maine region. It's another significant investment by the team, on top of ballpark improvements, aimed at providing the best affordable family experience possible.  League personnel, players and fans will all look forward to returning to a favorite Eastern League stop on the tenth anniversary of the last All-Star game hosted here. On behalf of the Eastern League, we thank the Sea Dogs, their partners, and the city of Portland for stepping up and bringing this exciting two-day affair to such a deserving community."

"The Sea Dogs are honored to have been selected by the Eastern League to host this prestigious event,"
stated Sea Dogs General Manager Geoff Iacuessa.  "We look forward to hosting a first class event for our fans and showcasing both Hadlock Field and the City of Portland to fans throughout the league."

The All-Star Game will feature the top players from the Eastern Division taking on the stars from the Western Division. Each team will be comprised of 24 players, with every Eastern League team being represented by at least one pitcher and one position player.  The teams will be selected through a combination of fan balloting and selections from managers, media and team personnel.

The Eastern League All-Star break will result in two days of All-Star festivities in Portland on Tuesday, July 14th and Wednesday, July 15th including a home run derby, autograph sessions, fireworks, and much more.  A full schedule of events and festivities will be announced at a later time.

This will mark the second time that the Sea Dogs have hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game, having previously hosted the event in 2005.  In 2005 the game sold out before the Sea Dogs 2005 season opened in April.

"We're delighted that Portland was chosen to host the All-Star game in 2015," said Mark Rees, Portland City Manager. "It's been 10 years since we last hosted and we're excited that we have the chance to show off our great city once again. July is a great time to be in Portland and this will be a great boost to our tourism industry. And let's not forget that we have some of the best fans in the league! We know they'll enjoy having the festivities and game in their backyard."

Tickets to the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game will go on sale on Saturday, November 1st, 2014 at 9:00 AM, the same day as 2015 Sea Dogs individual game tickets go on sale.  Box seat tickets are $20.00, reserved seat tickets are $18.00, and general admission seating will be $16.00 for adults and $10.00 for children and seniors.  Group rates are also available for parties of 20 or more.

Sullivan Tire was introduced as the title sponsor of the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Classic.  Sullivan Tire is a full service auto repair service facility with 66 Auto Service Locations and 15 Commercial Truck Centers throughout New England.  "Sullivan Tire is long-time supporter of Portland Sea Dogs baseball," stated Iacuessa.  "We are thrilled to partner with an organization that is committed to outstanding service throughout New England."

Many of today's Major League Baseball All-Stars have participated in past Eastern League All-Star Games including Matt Garza (2006), Ryan Howard (2004), and Hanley Ramirez (2005). Current Red Sox stars Clay Buchholz (2007), Jon Lester (2005), Will Middlebrooks (2011), Junichi Tazawa (2009), and Christian Vazquez (2013) were all named Eastern League All-Stars when playing for the Sea Dogs.

The Portland Sea Dogs (69-40) own the best record in the Eastern League.  Tickets are available for all games and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or on-line at www.seadogs.com.