🔒Mike Abramson | General Manager, Hartford Yard Goats

Mike Abramson plays guitar, bass, piano and drums and jokes he'd like to be a rock star when he grows up, but today he's a chief drum-beater for the Hartford Yard Goats, for which he became general manager last fall after Tim Restall's promotion to team president.

Abramson joined the then-New Britain Rock Cats in Nov. 2012 as vice president of marketing, partly on the chance there'd someday be a new ballpark and rebranded organization.

He also was ready for a larger role than he had with the Pawtucket Red Sox, plus living in Providence with children approaching school age didn't fit the family's plans.

“The last six years have been really amazing,” he said. “I can honestly say that I've been able to experience the full scope of the start-to-finish aspect of the job I envisioned in 2012.”

It wasn't always easy, though, he said, noting challenging circumstances like the year the team move was announced; the last year in New Britain; the year the Goats played all games outside Hartford (2016) before Dunkin' Donuts Park was finished; and the park's opening year in 2017, when he was assistant GM.

“But it's all been such a learning experience,” Abramson said. “Had we announced the move and everyone was happy, loved the idea of the new ballpark, loved the brand from the beginning, and the ballpark opened on time, I wouldn't have learned 1/10th as much as I ultimately did.”

How many sellouts have the Goats had through the latest home game and how are ticket sales trending overall?

We had four sellouts through this point last year, and we've had eight this year (as of May 10), so we're certainly ahead. We're at or near sellout on 12 more games upcoming this season, so the future is bright. How we pan out at the end of the season depends on weather and continued enthusiasm, but I'd say we're all feeling pretty good about our chances of finishing ahead of '17.

What promotion was most successful last season and which excites you this season?

Whalers Alumni Weekend was a big success and really seemed appreciated by fans. It's nice everyone has embraced the way we've folded the modern aspects of the ballpark with Hartford's rich sports history.

I'm really excited about the Hartford Steamed Cheeseburgers game this year because people have just gone crazy for the name and the logo. Looking forward to Harry Potter night because my kids and I are reading the series now. The Los Chivos games, along with our You Can Play Night (Pride Night), are high on my list, too, because I'm so committed to the notion that this is everyone's ballpark.

What's the biggest challenge you face in your new role?

Time is always my greatest challenge. Though I work 12 hours a day when the team is home, and eight hours when they're not, I can never seem to find enough time to do everything well. When you don't have enough time to do things the way you'd like, great becomes the enemy of good — and that's never a comfortable place to be. Fortunately, I think our fans see an A+ product and that's what counts.

What needs to happen this season for you to consider it a success?

Surpassing last year's attendance would be a nice, visible marker; the continued buzz; and the ballpark continuing to be the “cool” place to be.

What's your favorite thing about Dunkin' Donuts Park?

I love the city skyline and the sunset over the ballpark.