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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 F E B R UA R Y 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews From the Editor I t's no secret that Maine has a strong foothold in the sports economy. Between the four minor-league teams and a healthy dose of outdoor pursuits, from snowmobiling to run- ning races, a sports fan can stay busy in Maine. is issue was overseen by Deputy Editor Renee Cordes, a Chicago Cubs fan who dug in to find out what makes the Portland Sea Dogs, Maine Celtics, Maine Mariners and Portland Hearts of Pine tick. Her husband, Jim Neuger, handled much of the photogra- phy for the issue. Renee's cover story, "Big Plays in a small market," gives an inside look at both the investments made by the teams and the role they play in being feeder clubs for franchises like the Boston Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins. Working the games, she also offers a first- hand account of the atmosphere in the ballpark, on the field and in the arenas. "Minor-league sports is in essence a small business," Dajuan Eubanks, president of the Maine Celtics, tells Renee. "We don't save lives, we don't sell washing machines or insurance. We sell smiles." Elsewhere in the issue, we take a look at other aspects of the sports business. Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber delves into the impact of mara- thons and outdoor sports. Sloane Perron looks at how companies manage their sponsorship dol- lars. And Aroostook County correspondent John O'Meara shows how snowmobiling helps econo- mies in rural areas. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Mainebiz looks at how the economy is helped by minor-league sports and outdoor recreation. 1 P H O T O / T I N A F I S C H E R 1. Maine's first Aldi grocery store to open in March 2. Buyer of downtown Skowhegan building plans redevelopment 3. Hallowell investor scoops up more Water Street properties 4. Rowe Ford opens commercial vehicle service center in Portland 5. A French bakery in Hallowell? Mais oui! 6. A roundup of Maine's commercial real estate sales from January 2026 7. Friday Food Insider: Another winery closes amid shifting consumer tastes 8. Portland takes another step toward selling embattled Midtown parcels 9. Downeast marathons are growing economic engines for the region 10. Longtime Portland furniture retailer opts for retirement Mainebiz offers the latest business news in the Daily Report and the Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is the top content from Feb. 1–12. We're attorneys. But we're people first. Meet John. A pragmatic, adaptable business lawyer, John helps clients navigate important legal and commercial decisions. He partners with companies, investors, founders, and executive teams, bringing practical experience in complex transactions and scaling businesses. bernsteinshur.com John H. Doyle Shareholder Sports business is helping drive Maine's economy P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Crusher, mascot of the Maine Celtics, with Mainebiz Deputy Editor Renee Cordes at the Portland Sea Dogs' "Holiday at Hadlock" pre-Christmas festival.

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