WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED
Well, that was quick. The same day we shared news that Maine’s House of Representatives had rejected a big tax break for the trillion-dollar private equity firm that now owns the Portland Sea Dogs, lawmakers changed their minds and decided to give the private company’s billionaire investors a $2 million handout courtesy of you and me.
A Republican legislative leader nicknamed Billy Bob explained the rationale behind the reversal. “[W]hen you take all that revenue (that the team brings in) and the economic driver that comes into the state of Maine because of that, if they leave, they take that with them,” the Press Herald reported today.
Nevermind that the team has already said they’re committed to staying in Maine. Generations of Mainers who’ve lost their manufacturing jobs and communities thanks to the promises of private equity managers know those vultures would move the Sea Dogs to Arizona or Vegas or Mexico tomorrow if it saved them a dime.
But does Silver Lake Partners, which owns Diamond Baseball Holdings, which owns the Sea Dogs, which apparently owns our state representatives, actually bring money into Maine? You don’t have be an economist to figure out which direction the cash flows here. The vast majority of fans at Hadlock Field are Maine residents, not tourists. Silver Lake extracts far more money from local fans through ticket sales, merch, and wildly overpriced concessions than its team’s presence brings into Maine during home games.
Are the Sea Dogs an economic driver — i.e., an entity that encourages the cash-based exchange of goods and services? Sure. But so is this Substack page. And happy hour at the bar down the street. And the greaser who changed the oil in your car. And literally every business that does anything to cause a buck to pass from one pocket to another. So that rationale for this corporate welfare is pure bullshit, too.
In other news, earlier this month Silver Lake announced it’s buying (or taking private, in the parlance of these pricks) the publicly traded sports and entertainment conglomerate Endeavor in a deal worth $13 billion. “As well as new and reinvested equity from Silver Lake, the all-cash deal is to be financed by capital provided by United Arab Emirates (UAE) sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, Michael Dell’s family office DFO Management, private equity firm Lexington Partners and funds managed by Goldman Sachs,” SportsPro Media reported.
HIGHLIGHT
Bess Jacques & The Strays play an inspired mix of early jazz, swing and blues standards and originals at Blue Portland Maine (650 Congress St., Portland) at 7 p.m. Donations encouraged (all ages). 774-4111. blueportlandmaine.com.
MUSIC
Aura
“One Night of Queen” by Gary Mullen & The Works (Queen tribute)
8 p.m., $25.50-$39.50 (18+)
Blue Portland Maine
Bess Jacques & The Strays (jazz & Americana; 7 p.m.); jazz sesh (9 p.m.)
donations encouraged (all ages)
Flask Lounge
“Atomic: A Funky Dance Party,” featuring DJs Foxy, Dirty Keys and Big Ben (fresh & classic funk, soul & R&B)
9 p.m., $5 (21+)
Lenny’s
Terry Swett Duo
6:30 p.m., donations encouraged (all ages)
Maine Craft Distilling
Divey
7 p.m., no cover (21+)
One Longfellow Square
USM Student Jazz Combo Night
8 p.m., $7-$10 ($7 seniors, $5 students; all ages)
Orange Bike Brewing
The High Spirits Duo
5 p.m., no cover (all ages)
Portland House of Music
Down East Dead (Grateful Dead covers)
8:30 p.m., $12-$20 (21+)
RiRa
Jim Brady (Irish pub songs)
7 p.m., no cover (all ages)
VISIT OUR CLUB GUIDE FOR VENUE CONTACT INFO
PERFORMING ARTS
The Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine presents The NeverEnding Story (Atreyu and the Great Quest), an adventure tale based on Michael Ende’s novel, at The Children’s Museum + Theatre (250 Thompsons Point Rd., Portland) at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tix: $16. 828-1234. kitetails.org.
Portland Stage presents Clyde’s, playwright Lynn Nottage’s comedy about ex-cons getting a second chance at life in a truck-stop diner, at Portland Stage (25A Forest Ave., Portland) at 7:30 p.m. Tix: $25-$51. 774-0465. portlandstage.org.
HAPPENINGS
The Portland Sea Dogs play the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Hadlock Field (271 Park Ave., Portland) at 6 p.m. Tix: $17-$21 (free for billionaire economic drivers). 874-9300. portlandseadogs.com.