54 | July/August 2018
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throughout the season. ey guarantee sellout crowds of 5,000 fans.
"We'll be giving away glow sticks at our first fireworks show for the first
time," Aagard said. "I think that will be a great idea to enhance the fireworks at
the end of the night."
Aagard, a native of Minnesota, came to work for the SwampDogs in 2006
and became general manager in 2012. He has found a home in Fayetteville.
"I love it here," he said. "My wife and I married here and it's where our
daughter was born and is growing up. It's a great place to be."
Aagard is not against minor league baseball. In fact, most of his players
aspire to one day play the game professionally. e SwampDogs have had
countless players move on to minor league baseball aer their college careers
have ended and nine former players have even made it to the major leagues.
But he plans to do all he can to protect his turf, so to speak, from the arrival
of the Astros' team next year.
"e atmosphere at our ballpark is much more of a social environment than
it is just baseball," Aagard said. "We have a great entertainment venue. We just
happen to play baseball at the same time."
